Slogans divide HK's democrats on eve of rally

Activists yesterday faced factional divisions over slogans to be chanted at a rally later this week that will call on China to allow democracy in Hong Kong.

Factions within the movement battling for electoral reform debated whether to tone down slogans to be chanted at tomorrow's march, which is expected to attract 300,000 activists.

Some want to scrap the planned slogan "give power back to the people," while organizers say they will stand firm for the statement's inclusion.

The Civil Human Rights Front, the rally's lead organizer, says the split will keep activists from the protest and send a weaker message to Chinese leaders in Beijing.

"Democrats are giving confusing messages," said spokeswoman Jackie Hung. "The message is no longer clear -- people will be confused or think we are not united. And that will keep people away."

The march, held on the seventh anniversary of Hong Kong's switch from British colonial rule to Chinese control, follows one on July 1 last year in which an unprecedented 500,000 people took to the streets.

Last year's rally was fueled by concern over an unpopular antisubversion bill, whereas organizers expect this year's march will be driven by anger over China's declarations in April to stymie democratic reform.

The split in the democratic camp has been brewing since more moderate democrats began a charm offensive to win over the city's rulers in Beijing. These democrats said they would instead chant "Fight for democracy," "Safeguard freedom," "Rekindle hope" and "Rebuild Hong Kong."

Local tourism operators were grumbling that tour groups from China are inexplicably slowing to a trickle.

Between 400 to 600 Chinese tour groups normally enter Hong Kong each day, but that number has plunged to about 50 that are due to arrive each day between Wednesday and Friday, said Charles Ng, vice chairman of the Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association.

The tour industry will lose as much as HK$353 million (US$45 million) during the three-day drop in visits by mainlanders, but the number of tourists is scheduled to bounce back to normal on Saturday, Ng said.

Opposition lawmakers voiced suspicions yesterday that Beijing had stepped in to prevent Chinese from getting a look at Hong Kong people demanding greater political rights in a type of rally that would not be allowed in the mainland.

Travel industry executives say they will lose millions of dollars in revenue over the next few days, and some said Beijing may also be trying to stir up discontent among business owners, who will blame the democratic activists.

A woman who answered the phone at the Chinese government's liaison office in Hong Kong said that no one was available for comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, beleaguered Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa got a boost yesterday when a public opinion survey showed his popularity had risen.

Tung, who has been struggling in the polls for more than a year, saw his popularity rise to 45 on a one to 100 scale, his highest rating in four months, the Hong Kong University survey showed.

It also showed his disapproval rating had declined, with 59 percent of respondents now giving him the thumbs-down compared to 64 percent last month.