Several hundred Democratic Party members faced verbal abuse throughout the march to the Hong Kong government headquarters, with fellow opposition protesters hurling chants of "Shame on you" and "You betrayed Hong Kong people." Others held signs condemning the Democrats, while some sold T-shirts that portrayed the party symbol, a dove, with the Chinese national flag for a heart. One protester took a flyer from a Democratic Party fundraising stand and tore it up.
In an unprecedented reconciliation with Beijing, which typically views them as troublemakers, the Democrats recently met with a senior Chinese official based in Hong Kong and later worked out a compromise electoral bill with the Hong Kong government.
The Democrats helped pass proposals last week that expand Hong Kong's leader selection committee from 800 to 1,200 for the 2012 election cycle and add 10 elected seats to the 60-member legislature, which is half-elected, half chosen by interest groups, many of which are loyal to Beijing.
Hard-line pro-democracy legislators voted against the package, arguing that it falls short of genuine democracy.
The pro-democracy camp's annual July 1 march is supposed to demonstrate unity on the anniversary of the former British colony's reversion to Chinese rule. It began in 2003 when 500,000 hit the streets to protest a national security bill that many viewed as draconian. The Hong Kong government was forced to shelve the bill.
In a strategic victory for Beijing, this year's gathering of several thousand protesters revealed deep divisions within the political opposition.
"Since the Democratic Party gave up on the goal of universal suffrage and abolishing legislative seats for interest groups, I don't consider them part of the pro-democracy camp," said Andrew To, chairman of the League of Social Democrats, which voted against the compromise bill.
Protester Sam Wong said he felt betrayed by a party that he had traditionally supported.
"I definitely don't welcome them," said the 30-year-old advertising executive, who held a sign that said "Shameless" and "Give me back my vote." "They will feel the pain the next time I vote," said 26-year-old Tony Chu, who is unemployed.
Despite the compromise, the Democrats said Thursday they will continue to campaign for full democracy. They said earlier that they had reached a deal with Beijing because their supporters are fed up with political stalemate.
"Fighting for democracy isn't that straightforward," said Democratic Party Central Committee member and former Chairman Yeung Sum, who urged the party's supporters not to talk back to the hecklers.
"I'm not worried about any verbal abuse or criticism bred from misunderstanding," Democratic Party Chairman Albert Ho told reporters. "Time is the best test of our position."
