Barring a dramatic change of mood among the people, the July 1 rally today looks set to attract the biggest turnout since the 500,000-strong public uproar in 2003. From that perspective, the significance of the final number of participants is immaterial. Public discontent over a plethora of issues has reached a high point again, after the massive outburst six years ago.
Memories of the fallout following the 2003 protest remain vivid in the minds of many. The Article 23 national security bill was shelved. Three key members of the Tung Chee-hwa team resigned, followed by Mr Tung himself two years later.
With an impressive record in the civil service straddling the handover, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was chosen to pick up the pieces after almost eight years of Mr Tung's leadership that were marred by policy blunders and governance chaos, weak leadership and an unsettled civil service.
The so-called 'businessman ruling Hong Kong' model failed. If Mr Tsang was seen as a safe bet, it was because the 'civil servants ruling Hong Kong' governance model had been a proven success under British rule.
Against that backdrop, it could not be more ironic that the outburst of grievances among the civil service, in particular the police force, about their pay and working conditions has further increased the city's discontent ahead of today's rally.
Although the government has only said it will cut pay by 5.38 per cent for senior civil servants, while letting the middle and junior ranks off the hook, such political goodwill has not pacified the disgruntled unions. Unionists have alleged that this year's pay-trend survey of private-sector salaries, which is used as a benchmark for civil service pay adjustment, was flawed.
The row has sparked a dispute between the police force and the Civil Service Bureau over a grade-structure review report, which recommends a pay rise for eligible officers.
