Despite sweltering heat and severe smog, hundreds of thousands of residents marched here today to demand democracy and, to an extent not seen in previous marches, to criticize Beijing. Demonstrators in earlier rallies carried balloons and placards demanding the resignation of Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s chief executive. But Mr. Tung was barely mentioned today as protesters showed a new boldness in denouncing mainland China for banning general elections here and for allegedly trying to intimidate Democrats. Wearing white t-shirts that soon became plastered to their bodies with sweat, the demonstrators carried many placards with fairly broad slogans like “Democracy for Hong Kong.” But also visible were a variety of more controversial signs demanding, for example, “End one-party rule, establish a democratic China.”Full Story