Major Hong Kong anti-government rally and march get police permission

Event organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, which has been behind some of the biggest protests since the city’s political crisis began in June

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The Civil Human Rights Front has been behind some of the biggest protests since the political crisis began in June. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 12:00am, 6 Dec 2019Updated: 11:47am, 6 Dec 2019

Hong Kong police have approved a mass rally and march planned for Sunday by the Civil Human Rights Front, after a series of rejections for the pro-democracy group’s events.

Approval was granted on the condition that the front should observe police instructions on the route and start time, and that the force could order the march to be stopped if there is a threat to public order. Organisers would not be allowed to raise funds at the event.

The front’s convenor Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit said on Thursday that the arrangements had been worked out with police.

“They are not perfect but we accept them anyway. We are confident that the rally and march will be peaceful, so long as the police do not provoke participants,” said Sham, who will be a Sha Tin district councillor starting in January, having won a seat at the recent district council elections.

Jimmy Sham said the march arrangements were “not perfect but we accept them anyway”. Photo: Winson Wong

The front organised the march to mark Human Rights Day next Tuesday. Observed by the international community every year on December 10, it commemorates the date in 1948 when the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Sunday’s march was scheduled to set off from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay at 3pm, bound for Chater Road in Central. Participants would be allowed to rally in the park from as early as midday. The entire demonstration should be finished by 10pm, according to the police requirements.