Check out our official website: http://us.tomonews.net/<br />Check out our Android app: http://goo.gl/PtT6VD<br />Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f<br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />As many as half a million residents reportedly took to Hong Kong's streets demanding universal suffrage to mark the 17th anniversary of the city's handover to China on Tuesday. <br /><br />Huge crowds began to gather around central Victoria Park and surrounding subway stations around midday. Unphased by sweltering heat, they braved temperatures in the high-80's and humidity as high as 94% in support of free and fair democratic elections in 2017 to select the territory's next chief executive. <br /><br />The throngs began to march at 3:30 p.m. and despite it beginning to rain, people continued to pour in. <br /><br />Local police say some 90,000 people took part in protest, but according to its organizers, as many as 510,000 took to the streets. <br /><br />The figure, if true, exceeds the city's previous record set in 2003, when 500,000 people took part in protests opposing a Beijing-backed anti-subversion bill. <br /><br />Protesters burned white paper books, symbolizing Beijing authoritative reports, along the streets and performed hand puppet shows mocking the city's top leader, Leung Chun-ying, implying the Chief Executive is a pawn of the nation's Communist Party.<br /><br />A group of demonstrators even lugged out a coffin meant to represent the death of Hong Kong's democracy. <br /><br />The masses congested the city's narrow sidewalks, but authorities nonetheless refused to allow them to march along the motorway. <br /><br />Some who attempted to cross roadblocks were detained by the police and a number of minor clashes between demonstrators and the authorities broke out throughout the day. <br /><br />While the protests took place, Leung shed emotional tears at the 17th annual celebration of Hong Kong's handover to China. <br /><br />Noting Hong Kong's status as a diverse city, he stressed that it was normal for its residents to demonstrate
