The area known as “Civic Square,” which became the focal point of mass demonstrations in 2014 even ahead of the Occupy Central campaign, will once again be open for rallies by the end of the year, Chief Executive Carrie Lam revealed today in her maiden policy address.
In the online version of the address, an abridged version of which was delivered to lawmakers this morning, Lam said the 1,000-square-meter East Wing Forecourt of the government headquarters in Admiralty would open to the public “as soon as possible before the end of the year”.
As well as resuming its function as an access passage for cars, the area will made available for “public meetings or processions” on Sundays and public holidays, provided organizers seek prior approval from authorities.
“Relevant departments are making preparation for the re-opening of the East Wing Forecourt and details will be announced later,” she said.
The forecourt was closed-off by three-meter-high fence in 2014 by Lam’s predecessor, CY Leung, after it became the focal point for several major protests including a week-long demonstration against proposed national education classes.
In September of that year, students led by activists Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow climbed over the fence in a bid to “take back” the square.
The storming led to arrests and eventually the start of the 79-day Occupy movement calling for universal suffrage.
Wong, Law and Chow were later jailed when their community service sentences for unlawful assembly offenses were turned into prison terms between six and eight months by Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal.
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