Police issue letter of objection to rally planned for Sunday on the 15th straight weekend of Hong Kong anti-government protests, citing safety concerns
- March from Causeway Bay to Central was being organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, which has hosted the largest protests this summer
- Police said they had grounds to believe some demonstrators would break off from march’s route and target high-risk buildings
Police have objected to a march and rally proposed by the Civil Human Rights Front for Sunday, the second ban issued to the organiser of recent anti-government protests with record turnouts. The latest was due to take place on the 15th consecutive weekend of protests.
The Front has already submitted an application to appeal.
The police issued the letter of objection on Thursday, about two hours before the organiser originally planned to meet the press about the proposed march from Causeway Bay to Central.
In the letter, the police cited heightened safety concerns after weekends of protests, saying protesters had committed violent acts, including starting fires, throwing petrol bombs, bricks and steel bars, and destroying public property.
The proposed demonstration was close to buildings at high risk, the police said, referring to multiple MTR stations in the region, police headquarters in Wan Chai, and government headquarters and Government House in Admiralty.
