More demonstrations have been planned against Hong Kong’s anti-extradition law, as the government resists pressure to submit to the movement’s demands.
On Wednesday, a group of elderly people are set to march from Chater Garden in Central to the government headquarters in Admiralty at 5pm. Participants have been urged to white shirts and black pants.
Ms Yeung, who applied for a police letter of no objection for the protest, said it was self-organised. She said she wanted to show support for young protesters.
“Those young people were very brave. They were willing to do something for what they wanted to achieve, even though they may have to pay a price for it,” she said, referring to young protesters being arrested. “We have to give support and encouragement.”
Protesters are calling for a complete withdrawal of the bill, the withdrawal of the “riot” characterisation of the June 12 protests, the unconditional release of all arrested protesters, the formation of an independent commission of inquiry into police behaviour, as well as universal suffrage.
Social workers mobilise
More demonstrations are planned for the weekend. Social worker groups will march in silence from Wu Chung House in Wan Chai to the chief executive’s office on Sunday morning at 11am. Participants have been asked to wear black and write protest messages on beach balls.
They said they will march in silent in protest of Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who has not been responding to public demands.
On Sunday, the Civil Human Rights Front – which previously mobilised millions of protesters – is set to convene for a rally in Admiralty. It has applied for police permission, but has yet to receive a letter of no objection.
After a discussion with the police on Tuesday, convener Jimmy Sham said they had urged the Front to postpone the march to August because of public security concerns, but they refused. Sham said the Front’s march will begin in Causeway Bay and end in Central or Admiralty. They are set to meet police again soon to discuss plans.
The extradition bill would allow the city to handle case-by-case fugitive transfers to jurisdictions with no prior arrangements, including China. Critics have said residents would be at risk of extradition to the mainland, which lacks human rights protections. Large-scale demonstrations have rocked the city since June, and have evolved into protests over democracy, alleged police brutality and other community grievances. Chief Executive Carrie Lam declared the bill “dead” last week, but did not enact any mechanism to withdraw it, or agree to other demands.
