The fat lady ain't sung quite yet

I suppose it ain't over until it's actually over.

Hong Kong, May 30 (New York Times) - Thousands of demonstrators marched here on Sunday afternoon to mark the coming 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown and to protest the growing restrictions on this territory's democratic development. It was the first rally in what promises to be a politically turbulent summer.

Under leaden skies and in tropical humidity, the crowd marched from a palm-fringed park to the main government offices, carrying black banners and a black coffin representing the deaths of students in Beijing on June 4, 1989. Organizers estimated the crowd at 5,600 people, while the police said "more than 3,000" had taken part.

At the end of March, I noted that in the words of one activist, "a gloom is settling over the city" as Chinese officials began to crack down on signs of dissent. That gloom deepened recently with the sudden resignations and departures of three radio talk show hosts who had been advocates of democracy, who, the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor contends, were targeted by threats encouraged by Chinese officials.

However, despite rumors of troubles,

the march proceeded peacefully down broad avenues lined with onlookers.

There are still great and increasing difficulties facing democracy advocates in Hong Kong (and even more on the mainland), not the least of which is a law under which organizers of a demonstration can be held personally liable for any damage that occurs during its course, making the expense of taking out large liability policies a financially-burdensome necessity, one which so far has prevented planning for a rally intended for July 1, the anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the UK to China.

But apparently, despite all, the movement is carrying on as best as it can. All power to them.