Large amounts of discarded placards, boxes, and palettes were left behind at the scene of the anti-independence rally outside the legislature on Wednesday.
Protesters were rallying against Sixtus Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching of Youngspiration for pronouncing “China” as “Chee-na” when they first took their oaths, which many perceived as a term insulting to Chinese people.
Many of those attended waved Chinese flags and held placards and banners supplied by the organisers.
A group calling itself the Anti-China-Insulting Anti-independence Alliance told HKFP that they had brought 10,000 people to the rally.
Commercial Radio reported that some China flags were binned following the protest. Placards reading “Defend National Pride” were discarded and empty bottles were also seen littered around the park.
According to HK01, a significant number of participants of the rally headed towards a Chinese restaurant after the rally ended at around noon. Some walked, while some arrived in coaches.
Wong Kwok-kin, of the Federation of Trade Unions, was photographed eating with participants. A female participant was also photographed counting a stack of HK$100 bills at the restaurant.
The Anti-China-Insulting Anti-Independence Alliance included members of pro-Beijing parties such as the DAB, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, and some 20 other pro-China groups.
