Tens of thousands who took to the streets of Hong Kong today to march in protest of controversial anti-extradition legislation have passed the area of Wan Chai where the police-approved “letter of no objection” stipulated the march end.
On Friday, Coconuts HK reported that while police had granted a permit for today’s march, that permission came with one caveat, that it end not at the Court of Final Appeal in Admiralty but at the junction of Lugar and Johnston Roads in Wan Chai.
As crowds approached the stopping point today, however, police in the area simply abandoned the area to let them proceed.
I said that the police seemed to have an intention to enforce the designated end point, but that assessment I made ten minutes ago is now tragically out-of-date
The cordon line has been abandoned and people are walking in the direction of Admiralty #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/QGEGSAZtfo
— Aaron Mc Nicholas (@aaronMCN) July 21, 2019
As of 5pm, Coconuts HK reporters covering the march were well beyond the proposed end point and approaching government headquarters. Near Luard Road, a representative of march organizer the Civil Human Rights Front could be heard telling protesters to disperse over a loudspeaker to no avail.
Protest organizers tell marchers “This is the ending point of the protest. We did exactly what the police asked us to do. We announce we finish the protest here." They encouraged people to "be nice" if they planned to go further. #antiELAB #HongKong #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/Th92zYErOU
— Coconuts Hong Kong (@CoconutsHK) July 21, 2019
As of this story’s publishing, a crowd chaing “Hong Kong police break the law” was gathering outside police headquarters, which was chanting blocked off with large, water-filled barriers.
Growing crowd of anti-extradition protesters outside #HongKong police HQ can be heard chanting "Hong Kong police break the law!" Coconuts HK reporters have seen police in riot gear near the entrance. #antiELAB #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/xmqC3jF57I
— Coconuts Hong Kong (@CoconutsHK) July 21, 2019
This is the seventh consecutive week of protests to take place in Hong Kong. While the largest of the marches have generally been peaceful, violent clashes between police and lingering protesters late in the day has been a recurring theme.
Last Monday, police announced the arrest of 37 protesters after a Sunday clash in Sha Tin, that allegedly saw a police officer lose a finger.
