In this story:

• An anxious restive city
• More police than protesters
• Jiang asked to release Gao Yu
• Poll finds residents skeptical
• Related stories and sites

HONG KONG (CNN) -- A subdued Hong Kong marked the first anniversary of its return to China on Wednesday, reassured that Beijing would let it manage its own affairs but increasingly uncertain of its ability to do so.

The territory's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, and Chinese President Jiang Zemin told Hong Kong's 6.5 million people that their future increasingly would be tied to that of the vast mainland.

Toned-down festivities included a flag-raising ceremony on the harbor-side site of last year's handover ceremony and a variety show including Chinese dancers as well as stars of the Cantonese pop music scene.

Jiang, fresh from his summit with President Clinton, also will dedicate Hong Kong's new $20 billion international airport before going home Thursday. Clinton is to arrive at the airport just hours later for a brief visit ending his tour of China.

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More police than protesters

Andrew Cheng, a pro-democracy legislator, says that when the new legislature is seated, he will introduce a motion calling for full, direct elections in 2000 for the legislature. It will also ask for direct election of the chief executive when the term of Tung Chee-hwa, who was hand-picked by Beijing, expires in 2002.

"The purpose of this motion is to let the government realize that the high turnout rate of the last election proved that Hong Kong people are looking forward to a fully elected legislature to represent them," Cheng said.

Although pro-democracy politicians took 60 percent of the popular vote in the first election of the legislature in May, they won only 20 of the 60 seats. The electoral system was set up to ensure that the rest went to pro-Beijing candidates.

There are also those who are concerned that while protests are still allowed, they have become crowded, paranoia-inducing affairs where there are 10 times as many policemen as demonstrators.

Jiang asked to release Gao Yu

Members of the media, the liveliest in Asia, are worried that their freedoms, which have gone largely untouched so far, may yet be curtailed.

The new Hong Kong constitution requires the territory to pass a law on treason, subversion and sedition, and the fear is it will be used to intimidate and even imprison journalists.

Hong Kong harbor

China has jailed journalists for reporting on issues it considers state secrets, and Hong Kong reporters often cover subjects that rankle Beijing, such as calls for Tibet's independence.

Hundreds of reporters from Hong Kong and other countries signed an advertisement published Tuesday in Apple Daily, a mass-circulation newspaper, asking Jiang to release mainland journalist Gao Yu.

Gao was jailed for six years in 1993 for leaking state secrets after she wrote a series of articles for a Hong Kong magazine about China's structural reforms.

Zhao Meng, Gao's son, urged Jiang Tuesday to free her on medical grounds, saying his mother is suffering from skin problems and a worsening heart condition. Zhao also asked U.S. President Bill Clinton to help secure her release.

Poll finds residents skeptical

On Monday, the University of Hong Kong released a survey indicating that local residents believe the economic and social conditions in Hong Kong have deteriorated in the past year.

It found that almost 95 percent of the respondents said they thought economic conditions were worse, and 48.6 percent said their confidence in Hong Kong's future had decreased since the handover.

Whether the fears of the media materialize and whether Hong Kong ever enjoys full, democratic elections remains to be seen. What is clear is that Hong Kong has problems that require immediate attention.

"Hong Kong is hurting," says Allen Lee of the Hong Kong Liberal Party. "And because the situation was not created by the handover or Chinese sovereignty, it's a problem that we have to face ... that the whole of Asia has to face."

Hong Kong Bureau Chief Mike Chinoy, the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.