Hong Kong - Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong Thursday appealed to people in the former British colony to fight on for universal suffrage by taking part in an annual protest march.

Massive crowds of around 500,000 people marched in the July 1 march, held each year on the anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule in 1997, in 2003 and 2004.

Attendances have since fallen as economic prosperity in the city of 6.9 million has improved and as China has made it clear there will be no democracy in Hong Kong until at least 2017 or 2020.

However, to the surprise of many observers, last year's march, held on the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, attracted 68,000 people, the biggest turnout for three years.

At a briefing to announce the plans for this year's march, organizers said they would continue to press for immediate universal suffrage despite Beijing's refusal to consider it.

"The march on July 1 is going to be a march for universal suffrage," said legislator Emily Lau, who called recent limited moves towards freer elections by Beijing-appointed chief executive Donald Tsang "ridiculous."

"We will continue to demand election of the chief executive and all members of the legislative council by universal and equal suffrage, and we want it as soon as possible. We don't believe in the dates of 2017 and 2020."

Hong Kong was a British colony for 156 years before reverting to Chinese rule at the stroke of midnight on July 1, 1997, under an agreement that guarantees political freedoms for 50 years.

The territory is technically entitled to full democracy from 2007 but China and Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed chief executive have blocked moves towards early universal suffrage. (dpa)