The Civil Human Rights Front has changed its plans for a July 21 protest, saying that rather than holding a gathering in Admiralty, the rally will reprise the roughly the same route of past record-breaking marches, beginning at Victoria Park and ending at the Court of Final Appeal.
The CHRF — the same group behind enormous anti-extradition marches from Victoria Park to Admiralty on June 9, June 16, and July 1 — said this Sunday’s protest is set to begin at 3pm, though the organization has yet to receive a “letter of no objection” for the demonstration.
Organizers picked the endpoint to highlight protesters’ demand for an independent investigation into police’s use of force at recent protests, particularly a chaotic rally on June 12 that saw authorities disperse tens of thousands of mostly peaceful protesters with volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets.
“The main goal is to form an investigation committee, with a judge being the president, to investigate what really happened in past events,” CHRF convenor Jimmy Sham said in a press conference this afternoon. “Only by figuring out the truth, will the society return to peaceful and normal”
In a meeting between the CHRF and police representatives yesterday, authorities had asked that the protest be pushed back until August due to public safety concerns in light of recent clashes, though the CHRF rejected the suggestion.
Sham maintained today that police had ultimately agreed to the date and route, and “promise to issue the letter [of no objection] as soon as possible.”
He added that Chief Executive “Carrie Lam’s indifference towards the people’s voices is what provoked the outrage,” and called for Lam to stop “hiding behind the police” and find a political solution.
When asked whether he was worried that Sunday’s protest would also turn violent, Sham said the CHRF was committed to organizing a peaceful rally.
There was some concern this week as to whether police would continue to allow protests at all. Local newspaper Apple Daily published a report, citing an unnamed source, claiming that the government was considering restricting public gatherings altogether.
Pro-Beijing lawmakers, meanwhile, have publicly suggested authorities stop issuing letters of no objection to groups wishing to demonstrate.
Some 20 members of the DAB, the city’s largest pro-establishment party, visited police headquarters today to repeat the suggestion.
“Recent protests caused violent clashes and are getting out of control,” they said in a statement, calling the situation “worrying”.
Ann Chiang, a DAB lawmaker who was among those to suggest restricting gatherings, said today that she had “urged the police commissioner to stop permitting protests and assemblies that might lead to riots and injuries.”
