the message of the democracy movement, he said, which has splintered since the end of the mass street rallies in December.
“Right now people are asking ‘what next?’ after the veto. We hope the march can set the political agenda and give citizens a chance to discuss how to bring the democratic movement forward.”
Political groups set up stalls and addressed the crowds on loudspeakers while protesters fanned themselves in the oppressive heat.
Small groups of campaigners remained outside the government complex into the evening.
This year is the 18th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China by Britain in 1997 and the march is traditionally an outpouring of protest directed at both China’s communist government and the local leadership.
It comes at a time when Hong Kong is deeply polarised and there is fragmentation in both pro-democracy and pro-Beijing camps.
Pro-Beijing groups separately held anniversary events, including lion dance performances and a street parade, while the public poured into an open day at China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) barracks in Hong Kong.
In a speech at a ceremony for the handover anniversary, city leader Leung Chun-ying criticised lawmakers who had rejected the reform package.
Leung used instability in Europe to argue that other issues should now take precedence over democratic reforms.
“As the experience of some European democracies shows, democratic systems and procedures are no panacea for economic and livelihood issues,” he said.
A small group of protesters near the ceremony carried a cardboard coffin marked “Grave of Hong Kong - Date of Death: 1997” and burned a portrait of Leung.
One was arrested for burning a Hong Kong flag, police said, but was later released on bail.
The democracy camp has struggled to stay united since last year’s rallies failed to win concessions on the reform package.
Some support a newly emerging “localist” stance that semi-autonomous Hong Kong should seek increasing independence from Beijing, rather than campaigning for democracy in China.
The pro-establishment side was also left in disarray after a chaotic vote on the election package which saw the majority of the lawmakers supposed to back the bill staging a mistimed walkout.