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Hong Kong national security law
Hong KongPolitics

Hong Kong activists plan to defy police ban on July 1 protest march

  • As Beijing’s new national security law is passed, activists make plans for civil disobedience
  • Police lock down area in Wan Chai where handover anniversary ceremonies will be held

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A worker checks the fence on a footbridge leading to the Legislative Council Complex in Tamar. Photo: Dickson Lee
Sum Lok-keiandClifford Lo
Political activists in Hong Kong have said they plan to disobey the police ban on the July 1 march and will use civil disobedience to protest against Beijing’s new national security law for the city, possibly on the very day the legislation kicks in.
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Police insiders said about 4,000 officers will stand by on Wednesday to handle any unrest, in addition to those patrolling and conducting stop-and-search checks at likely protest sites.

To prevent disruption of ceremonies planned for the July 1 anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, police sources said a lockdown had been in effect since the early hours of Monday around the venue, the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

08:47

A year of anti-government protests in Hong Kong

A year of anti-government protests in Hong Kong

For the first time since the handover, police on Saturday rejected an application by the Civil Human Rights Front to hold the protest march. Since 1997, July 1 has been marked every year by demonstrations in the city.

In rejecting the application, police cited public health risks arising from the coronavirus pandemic and the record of violence at past rallies organised by the front.

On Monday, members of the opposition camp received invitations from League of Social Democrats veteran Bull Tsang Kin-shing to attend a press conference on Tuesday outside the Court of Final Appeal in Central, where plans for civil disobedience would be revealed.

If we insist on resisting, there is a large chance of our being arrested. The charges will not be light, please judge for yourself
Bull Tsang, League of Social Democrats

In a short message, Tsang warned that those who insist on marching despite the police ban could face tough charges, given the national security law.

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