Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp today urged Hongkongers to take to the streets yet again on Sunday after tens of thousands of people protesting a controversial extradition bill were met with tear gas and rubber bullets from police yesterday.
Lawmakers — former and current — were trying to head to the entrance of the Central Government Offices this afternoon to speak to Carrie Lam, but were turned away by police officers stationed around the complex.
Former Labour Party lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan condemned the police’s use of “excessive force and violence on the demonstrators” on Wednesday, and took aim at Lam for “refusing to listen to one million people on a peaceful demonstration” that took place on Sunday, June 9.
He also urged the city’s pro-Beijing lawmakers — who currently hold the majority of seats in the city’s legislature — to withdraw their support for the bill.
“It is the responsibility of Carrie Lam for all the violence on the day, and we condemn Carrie Lam for ordering the police to use excessive force and violence on demonstrators,” Lee said.
“Today, we are calling upon the people of Hong Kong to continue our peaceful demonstration, we are calling upon the people of Hong Kong to come out and have a peaceful march again on Sunday, another Sunday march condemning the police violence, and asking for the withdrawal of the bill.”
Lee said that the march’s organizers, the Civil Human Rights Front, had already submitted their application for the march to the Hong Kong Police Force, and urged Hongkongers join them at 2:30pm on Sunday. The location of the march was not disclosed.
In addition to Sunday’s rally, they also announced another general strike on Monday, and urged Hongkongers to boycott classes and work.
Lee was flanked by other pro-democracy supporters, including Claudia Mo, the leader of the Legislative Council’s pro-democracy camp, who repeated calls for Lam and her government to withdraw the controversial extradition bill, and described yesterday’s scenes as “ugly, traumatising, completely unthinkable.”
The lawmakers ended their mini press briefing by laying a funeral wreath by a wall outside the CGO, and posted a black and white photo of Lam on it.
The announcement comes amid widepsread backlash against police’s heavy-handed tactics against protesters, which included the use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and bean bag rounds yesterday.
