30, 000 people turn out for pro-democracy march in Hong Kong

Hong Kong saw a turnout of nearly 30,000 people for the annual New Year's Day pro-democracy march in protest of government's consultation for reforming the territory's upcoming legislative and leadership elections.

The Civil Human Rights Front organized the march in which people demanded "universal suffrage" and public nomination for the elections, the Japan Times reports.

Beijing-backed Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is being demanded to step down, the report added.