Hong Kong ( CNN ) They carried bright yellow umbrellas , chanting `` I want true democracy , '' as they festively made their way through Hong Kong 's streets . For the first time in more than a month , demonstrators peacefully took to the roads , many said , to make their voices heard and let their government and the world know that their fight for universal suffrage continues . Joshua Wong , 18 , one of the student leaders of the movement , was one familiar face in the crowd . `` This rally is to let people know the umbrella movement is not over , '' Wong said , referencing the iconic symbol chosen by the demonstrators when they occupied the streets of Hong Kong for two-and-a-half months late last year . The turnout , though , fell far short of expectations , even for organizers . While the group behind the march -- the Civil Human Rights Front -- had forecast 50,000 people to join , they estimated only 13,000 took part in the procession . A spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Police Force put that number at just 8,800 . While admitting some disappointment , Daisy Chan with the Civil Human Rights Front was still upbeat , saying the march had achieved its main goal : to remind the Hong Kong government that the reform proposal currently on the table for the 2017 election does n't go far enough . `` In the coming days , I think people will try to give more political pressure , not only through demonstration , but civil disobedience , in order to fight for true democracy , '' Chan said . Dennis Yip , a 19-year-old student who joined the march , called it `` half successful '' because new groups had joined . Some of them planned to meet after the rally to brainstorm the next steps , said Joshua Wong and other students . But it 's unclear where this movement , which drew over 100,000 protesters at its peak in 2014 , goes from here , without a clear leader or strategy to achieve its aims . As Hong Kong works through the process of how its top leader will be elected in 2017 , the government has asked for feedback during a two-month period of public consultations . But Hong Kong 's leaders , including Chief Executive CY Leung , have made it clear that there are limits : reform must be within the framework outlined by Beijing . That framework has Hong Kong 's next leader being directly elected for the first time , but notes that the candidates for the ballot will be screened by a nominating committee . The government responded to Sunday 's protest march with a statement on its website : `` The ( government ) calls on all sectors of the community to adopt an accommodating , rational and pragmatic approach , as well as an inclusive attitude to express views , to forge consensus so that 5 million eligible voters can elect the Chief Executive by universal suffrage through 'one person , one vote ' in 2017 . '' One bright yellow sign held high by marchers along the route had a different interpretation : `` Democracy Bottom Line . Do Not Cross , '' it read . Since its handover from the United Kingdom in 1997 , Hong Kong has been governed as a Special Administrative Region of China under the concept of `` one country , two systems . '' CNN 's Felicia Wong and journalist Eudora Wong contributed to this report .
Organizers said fewer people turned out for this march . Group behind protest said civil disobedience may be used in the upcoming elections . Hong Kong 's government has asked for transparency on election process .