Some 1.7 m gathered for this weekend 's pro - democracy rally in Hong Kong , according to organisers . Police , who only attended the officially sanctioned section of the protest , kept the turnout lower , at 128,000 . The turmoil has plunged one of Asia's leading financial centres into crisis. The protest was peaceful , despite previous clashes between activists and police . The election bill which sparked the first protest has now been suspended , but protesters are now calling for democratic reform , including universal suffrage , and for alleged police brutality to be investigated . Hong Kong enjoys a special status , compared to mainland China , but many fear this will soon change as Beijing tightens its grip on the territory .
Some 1.7 m gathered for this weekend 's pro - democracy rally in Hong Kong , according to organisers . Police , who only attended the officially sanctioned section of the protest , kept the turnout lower , at 128,000 . The protest was peaceful , despite previous clashes between activists and police . The election bill which sparked the first protest has now been suspended , but protesters are now calling for democratic reform , including universal suffrage , and for alleged police brutality to be investigated . Hong Kong enjoys a special status , compared to mainland China , but many fear this will soon change as Beijing tightens its grip on the territory .