Organisers were expecting around 50,000 protesters to turn out for the July 1 march, down from 70,000 last year, underscoring fears that a deep split in the city's opposition camp has deterred potential supporters.

The march has become an annual opportunity for campaigners to show the strength of opposition to Beijing and the local authorities.

But last week's passage of a package of political reforms that promise an incremental boost to democracy -- but not one person, one vote -- has divided the opposition camp.

Thousands poured into the city's Victoria Park on Thursday, chanting slogans and holding banners calling for universal suffrage, as the government issued a hot-weather warning with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius.

"I am very dissatisfied about the democratic progress in Hong Kong in the last 13 years," Sheri Lai told AFP, accompanied by her 14-year-old son.

"We should not rely on political parties anymore. We should use our voice and sweat to fight for our rights."

Student Jessica Lee, 14, added: "I don't want my children to ask me why we still can't pick our own leaders (in) 10 or 15 years."

Some politicians warned that this year's protest could be chaotic -- with campaigners directing their anger not only at the government, but also the Democratic Party, which recently changed course and voted in favour of the Beijing-backed reform package.

Previously, the opposition were united in their goal to fight for universal suffrage for the city of seven million people in 2012 -- and nothing less.

Raymond Wong, of the radical League of Social Democrats, said they would not encourage supporters to clash with the Democratic Party, but added "we can't guarantee anything".

"I expect the July 1 march will be very chaotic. The Communist Party will be very happy."

Radical opposition lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung -- known for wearing Che Guevara T-shirts and throwing bananas at government officials during meetings -- led a 10-person march Thursday morning to a flag-raising ceremony attended by Chief Executive Donald Tsang, but their passage was blocked by about 60 police.

Leung later showed up at an anniversary reception and started chanting slogans before being removed by security, local radio RTHK reported.

The US consulate in Hong Kong said in a statement late Wednesday that it welcomed the reforms as a "significant step forward in Hong Kong's democratic development."

Tsang echoed those comments in a statement Thursday, saying the reform package "is the best gift as we celebrate our reunification (with China)."

Last week, the Democratic Party's lawmakers were mobbed by a large crowd of activists, who accused them of betraying Hong Kong people by kowtowing to Beijing.

To minimise disruption to Thursday's rally, organisers said they would place members of the party at the end of the march.

Albert Ho, chairman of the Democratic Party, said he was prepared for a bad reception.

"There may be people who point fingers at us," he said.

"But I don't think it will turn into personal conflicts or physical confrontation... I am very confident it will be a peaceful and orderly demonstration."

A record 500,000 people took part in the 2003 march, galvanised by an economic downturn and hostility towards the unpopular then chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, and his proposed national security bill.

The unexpected show of people power saw the security legislation shelved and was a key factor in Tung's resignation the following year.

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