HK protesters demand direct elections again

HONG KONG, July 21 (AP): Protesters in Hong Kong pressed on Sunday past the designated end point for a march in which tens of thousands repeated demands for direct elections in the Chinese territory and an independent investigation into police tactics used in previous demonstrations.
Around 10,000 people gathered in Admiralty, the district housing the city's government complex, despite orders from police to disperse immediately.
Others continued toward Central, a key business and retail district and the site of the 2014 Umbrella Movement sit-ins.
Large protests began last month in opposition to a contentious extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong residents to stand trial in mainland China, where critics say their rights would be compromised.
Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, has declared the bill dead, but protesters are dissatisfied with her refusal to formally withdraw the bill. Some are also calling for her to resign amid growing concerns about the steady erosion of civil rights in city.
A former British colony, Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997, and was promised certain democratic freedoms under the framework of "one country, two systems."