Thousands of demonstrators gathered on Tuesday in Hong Kong's largest park during the anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule under a "one country, two systems" agreement for a pro-democracy rally reflecting surging discontent over Mainland China's continuous interference.

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With their message of displeasure expressed in huge banners and chanted slogans, the activists hold the march every year since 1997 to air their various grievances in what could be Hong Kong's largest day of street protesters in a decade, reports said.

Hong Kong's chief executive Leung Chun-ying has called for stability amidst the solid river of protesters, stating that universal suffrage was a "common aspiration" for both Beijing and Hong Kong leaders.

The march was held several days after almost 800,000 residents participated in an informal vote to make the selection of the city's top official more democratic-that is, eliminating Beijing's control over the former British colony's election in 2017, an act which Beijing dubbed as 'illegal and invalid'.

The demonstration began at the city's Victoria Park and culminates in the Central business district where some protesters even sang the Cantonese version of the Les Miserables anthem "Do You Hear the People Sing?"

Meanwhile, the Chinese edition of the Global Times warns that the pro-democracy activities are 'polarizing Hong Kong society.

China Daily also points out that people calling for full autonomy in Hong Kong are ignoring economic realities stating that "without mainland, [Hong Kong] would be left with only half of its trade, one-fourth of its foreign investment and visitors, not to mention only one-tenth of its food and water supply."

In spite of this, demonstrators composed mostly of younger people are firm in their demands.

"We believe to change society, we need not our words to appeal to politicians but to use activism to pressure them," says 17-year-old Joshua Wong, leader of a student activist group named Scholarism.

TagsHong Kong, democracy, pro-democracy march