Hong Kong police keep tight tabs on first authorised protest in years

Record ID: 1717287

  • Title: Hong Kong police keep tight tabs on first authorised protest in years
  • Date: 26th March 2023
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (MARCH 26, 2023) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS GATHERING AT SQUARE ORGANISER HANDING OUT NUMBERED LANYARDS NUMBERED LANYARDS POLICE SETING UP CORDEN LINE DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING PLACARDS WRITING (Chinese): “AGAINST A LAND RECLAMATION IN TSEUNG KWAN O” AND “AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION OF CEMENT PLANTS AND WASTE TRANSFER STATION” RALLY STARTING DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING PLACARDS WRITING (Chinese): “AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION OF CEMENT PLANTS AND WASTE TRANSFER STATION” VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS WALKING ON FOOTBRIDGE TAP TO CORDEN OFF THE PROTEST CROWD REQUIRED BY POLICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) 49-YEAR-OLD DEMONSTRATOR JAMES OCKENDEN, SAYING: “Yeah, I'm so happy it actually went ahead because, you know, we've had a few authorised protests that have actually then fell flat at the last minute for whatever reason. It's been, it's been OK. I don't really didn't really like to wear a number. I don't like to be given a number because it really does limit the spontaneity of the event. It puts people off coming, I think, and the whole thing the whole way along, we were dragged with this tape surrounding us like cattle and it's very awkward. We're like really being pulled by the tape at some points.” VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATION IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 53-YEAR-OLD DEMONSTRATOR AND ORGANISING VOLUNTEER, WINNIE CHIU, SAYING: “There were surprises and joys, happy that for the first time in so many years, we were given the non-objection letter to protest after the resumption of normality. There was also some concern about whether the march would be suspended in last minute, but we were very happy (that it could go ahead). We could not have anticipated how many residents would take part, as there are hundreds of thousands of residents in Tseung Kwan O. When our organiser applied for a notice of non-objection, we applied for 300 people but the government approved 100, and there were many restrictions after the approval. We were also worried that people would not participate because of the restrictions.” VARIOUS OF RALLY IN PROGRESS POLICE STANDING NEXT TO RALLY
  • Embargoed: 9th April 2023 08:49
  • Keywords: Hong Kong National Security Police Protest rights
  • Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • City: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Fundamental Rights/Civil Liberties,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001032426032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Hong Kong police on Sunday (March 26) permitted a small protest march under tight restrictions in one of the first demonstrations to be approved since the enactment of a sweeping national security law in 2020.
    Several dozen demonstrators were required to wear numbered lanyards and were barred from wearing masks, as police monitored their march against a proposed land reclamation and rubbish processing project. Participants chanted slogans against the reclamation project as they marched in the rain with banners in the eastern district of Tseung Kwan O, where the project is slated to be built.
    Police granted the organisers a "no objection" letter for the protest on the condition they ensure it would not violate national security laws, including seditious displays or speech.
    Organisers said up to 50 people took part in the protest .
    (Production: Joyce Zhou)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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