A railway scandal, pro-democracy and calls for Hong Kong independence drew an estimated 1,500 protesters to Hong Kong’s streets as activists marked China’s National Day with a rally and march bristling with anti-Beijing sentiment.
Civil Human Rights Front organised the march, aimed at calling the government to task for a failure to ensure public safety in its construction of the Sha Tin/Central Rail Link.
Wearing black T-shirt that imprinted “Refuse to fall”, Civil Human Rights Front’s representatives Au Nok-hin and Jimmy Sham held a board which says “Refuse a dangerous city” and posed for pictures. #JmscmjOct1 pic.twitter.com/m2AuY7Pec5
— Zhang Jing (@zhangjing0824) October 2, 2018
#JmscmjOct1 Civil Human Rights Front representative is making speeches strongly against the scandal-hit Shatin TO Central Link. pic.twitter.com/uuA4kcxlnN
— Ji Luqi (@JiLuqi) October 1, 2018
Civil Human Rights Front staff putting up a flag before the march at East Point Road, Causeway Bay. The protest march aims at promoting democracy and criticizing the Hong Kong government for the poor handling of the MTR line Shatian to Central.#hkdemocracy pic.twitter.com/9473J6lVu9
— Zichang Zhuang (@Fernando_Zhuang) October 1, 2018
Protesters called for the resignation of Frank Chan, the government’s secretary for transport and housing, in the wake of the MTR construction controversy. Police are said to be investigating whether building irregularities at Hung Hom station constituted fraud.
Marchers gathered in the heart of Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island’s prime shopping district, before moving on to the Central Government Office in Admiralty. The number of demonstrators was down markedly on the 2017 National Day protest, which drew an estimated 40,000 onto the streets.
Smaller sub-groups of vocal pro-democracy and independence activists joined the march.
An exchange of chants between People Power and Pro-Beijing groups, with police separating both. #jmscmjOct1 pic.twitter.com/wXYWTXr68m
— Graeme Acres (@GraemeAcres) October 1, 2018
Confrontations occurred along the route, with Pro-Beijing counter-protestors singing the national anthem and waving the flag of the Peoples’ Republic.
Scuffles ensued at Civic Square when security guards blocked a man holding a placard proclaiming “Hong Kong would become China if it doesn’t become independent.”
Protestor Mr. Leung, who was earlier blocked by police to enter civic square, raised his slogan, said he is not afraid of being prosecuted, “I’ve sat in communist jail before, not afraid of Hong Kong jail.”#jmscmjOct1 pic.twitter.com/M36SOfdwOV
— Veta Chan (@veta_chan) October 1, 2018
The protest highlighted concerns that Beijing is interfering increasingly in the city’s governance. It was staged eight days after the Hong Kong government banned a pro-independence party, claiming a national security risk.
Joshua Wong, a key figure in the 2014 “Umbrella Revolution” and Secretary-General of pro-democracy party Demosisto, told protestors, “National Day is not a day for celebration” and said he feared his party could be banned next.
Joshua Huang Chi-fung, former student leader of the Umbrella Movement, called for Hong Kong self-determination and the freedom of speech at the pre-protest assembly in Causeway Bay on Monday. #jmscmjOct1 pic.twitter.com/H12ZSHTLVb
— Luna Hailian JIN (@HailianJin) October 1, 2018
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