Groups must not pay people to join anti-Occupy march, organisers say

Alliance for Peace and Democracy campaigners say they will look into any reports of member groups paying people to take part in an anti-Occupy Central march on August 17.

But groups will be allowed to offer other benefits, such as free transport, drinks or meals. And the only sanction for groups that flout the rule will be expulsion from the alliance, march organisers said yesterday.

"Any cash subsidy to the participants would not be allowed," Alliance spokesman Robert Chow Yung said. But offering meals or transport to participants was common practice in mass demonstrations, he added.

Chow said all complaints would be taken seriously and investigated by himself and leading campaigners Irons Sze Wing-wai, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, and Federation of Trade Unions chief Stanley Ng Chau-pei.

However, details of unsubstantiated complaints would not be released. Asked whether that could lead the public to question whether investigations were conducted properly, Chow said: "The identity of the innocent should not be publicised because it is unnecessary and unfair."

"Pay-to-protest" concerns have dogged pro-government marches in recent years. At a New Year's Day march last year, reporters from the now-defunct House News website caught participants collecting HK$250 handouts from a man hiding in a portable toilet.