More than 100,000 Hong Kong residents marched through the streets yesterday to protest against Chinese rule on the 15th anniversary of the former British colony's return to Beijing.

The protest was designed as a message of defiance to the visiting Chinese premier Hu Jintao, who was greeted by Hong Kong's new chief executive Leung Chun-ying ((below left, with Mr Hu), that Hong Kong values its autonomy and does not want to be a puppet of Beijing.