"apple daily" often criticizes the central government of china and pro-china governments in hong kong. just prior to 1 july 2003, the newspaper encouraged people to take to the street and protest against the government. on that day of protest, it prepared banners and newspaper front pages for the public to carry and protest. the 2003 protest drew 500,000 citizens (the third largest protest ever seen in hong kong) to the hong kong 1 july marches.