Thousands rally in support of Hong Kong’s embattled police force, as extradition bill unrest rumbles on
- Pro-Beijing legislator Junius Ho among speakers at the rally, where he says pro-democracy residents ‘have demonised’ the extradition bill
Thousands of people turned out on Saturday to show support for Hong Kong police after Beijing gave the embattled force a strong vote of confidence over recent unrest in the city.
The rally’s organiser, pro-establishment group Politihk Social Strategic, estimated 90,000 people attended the “Give Peace A Chance” event on the central lawn of Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, while police said attendance peaked at 26,000.
The event came a day after state media ran interviews with three representatives of Hong Kong police associations, who insisted police could handle the protests rocking the city and had thus far used only minimal force.
State broadcaster CCTV covered the rally in its evening news bulletin, saying the event was “peacefully conducted with music”, and featuring several interviews with Mandarin-speaking participants.
People at the rally differed on whether the government should set up an independent inquiry into recent clashes between police and protesters. But most showed overwhelming support for pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, who has become a hate figure for demonstrators taking to the streets over the now-abandoned extradition bill.
