TOPIC

July 1 march

The annual July 1 march in Hong Kong marks the handover of the British colony to Beijing that took place in 1997. The peaceful demonstration has become a rallying point for the city's pro-democracy activists. It captured the public's attention in 2003, when half a million people marched, angered by proposed national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

Under a new scoring system, non-government welfare organisations that have organised events or activities backing official policies over the past three years will stand a better chance of getting money. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Hong Kong NGOs must have fair allocation of funds

A revision of subsidy rules that takes into account whether city social welfare groups support the government has raised concern.

16 Mar 2024 - 6:30AM

Hong Kong

My Take | Values that make Hong Kong unique just as important as they were in 1997

2 Jul 2023 - 12:49AMvideocam

Hong Kong police

Police ring of steel for July 1 Hong Kong handover commemorations

30 Jun 2023 - 10:29PM

Hong Kong courts

Woman denied bail after charge of mourning man who knifed Hong Kong policeman

Zeng Yuxuan, 23, appears in court on charge she committed sedition by commemorating man who knifed police officer.

2 Jun 2023 - 10:26PM

The Causeway Bay scene of a lone wolf knife attack on a police officer on the 2021 anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong courts

3 opposition activists to plead guilty over roles in illegal assembly in 2020

District councillor Tsang Kin-shing, former councillor Andy Chui and activist Tang Sai-lai will admit criminal liability over their involvement in the protest.

17 Aug 2021 - 9:00PM

Hong Kong national security law

How Civil Human Rights Front went from fledgling alliance to protest powerhouse

When the front was founded back in 2002, its members assumed it would just be temporary, but since then it has become one of the city’s most important outlets for public dissent.

15 Aug 2021 - 11:04PMvideocam

Hong Kong politics

Group behind some of Hong Kong’s largest protests to disband amid police probe

Civil Human Rights Front, which was founded in 2002, expected to announce its decision to fold on Friday.

11 Aug 2021 - 11:20PMvideocam

Anti-government protesters gather for a New Year’s Day march organised by the Civil Human Rights Front. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong national security law

Hong Kong court snubs call to use mainland legal texts for security law ruling

Judges are set to pass the first sentence under Hong Kong’s national security law – on Leon Tong, convicted this week of terrorism, inciting secession.

29 Jul 2021 - 11:27PMvideocam

Hong Kong national security law

‘Liberate Hong Kong’ slogan ‘very risky’, scholars, experts warn after ruling

Ruling on popular protest slogan has broad implications for future trials, analysts say, amid debate on possibility of terrorism charge.

29 Jul 2021 - 8:50AMvideocam

Hong Kong politics

US asked Britain to ‘restrain’ Martin Lee from holding 1997 Hong Kong protest

Americans were worried Beijing might react ‘disproportionately’ to big protest on day of Hong Kong’s return to China.

20 Jul 2021 - 4:29PM

Martin Lee (left) and other Hong Kong pan-democrats address a crowd from the balcony of the former Legco building on the night before the handover. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong national security law

National security police raid University of Hong Kong student union

Officers enter building on Friday afternoon as part of investigation into motion that ‘appreciated the sacrifice’ of the man who stabbed a policeman before killing himself.

16 Jul 2021 - 11:28PMvideocam

Hong Kong’s national security police outside the student union office at the University of Hong Kong. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong police

Hong Kong police up patrols, arrest woman after calls to ‘mourn’ July 1 attacker

Officers stationed at scene of July 1 crime searched 26-year-old woman who turned up with flowers, and arrested her after finding box cutter in her bag.

8 Jul 2021 - 3:38AMvideocam

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Hong Kong handover anniversary

Hong Kong can reach new heights with commitment to national security: No 2 official

Acting chief executive John Lee tells officials and dignitaries gathered for 1997 handover anniversary that ‘one country, two system’ is foundation of city’s success.

1 Jul 2021 - 5:03PMvideocam

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong police block July 1 rally against ‘political suppression’

The force cited the coronavirus pandemic in declining to grant permission for the march, which would have coincided with the anniversaries of both the city’s handover to China and the founding of the Communist Party.

29 Jun 2021 - 8:33AMvideocam

People participate in a July 1 rally in 2018. Police on Monday denied an application for this year’s rally, citing the pandemic. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong national security law

Explainer | National security: what is Article 23 and why is it back in the spotlight?

Basic Law provision requiring Hong Kong to bring in laws protecting Beijing from subversive, treacherous acts is back on the political agenda.

28 Jun 2021 - 12:00PMvideocam

Hong Kong is obliged under the Basic Law to bring forward legislation that protects the central government against treason, subversion and other offences. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong politics

Carrie Lam missing Hong Kong handover events for Communist Party anniversary

Lam and dozens of senior political, business figures expected to head to Beijing on Monday for the Communist Party’s 100th anniversary.

25 Jun 2021 - 12:45AMvideocam

Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong’s Civil Human Rights Front will not hold July 1 march this year

The front has been responsible for some of Hong Kong’s largest protests, but its convenor was jailed for 18 months in May, and police are currently investigating the group’s legality.

21 Jun 2021 - 12:42AM

Universities in Hong Kong

Study that paid Hong Kong students to join July 1 march sparks controversy

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology says it never approved the paying of students to join a 2017 annual march.

5 Jun 2021 - 4:17PMvideocam

The annual July 1 march in 2017 was attended by about 60,000, according to the organisers. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong national security law

Letters | Hong Kong officials surrendered ‘two systems’ without a fight

10 Feb 2021 - 6:40AMvideocam

Hong Kong protests

Opposition figures charged over unauthorised rally will not admit to allegations

Leung Kwok-hung, Tsang Kin-shing, and Figo Chan were among eight persons who faced 17 charges that stemmed from a procession on July 1.

17 Dec 2020 - 6:49PMvideocam

Hong Kong protests

Former Hong Kong lawmakers among eight arrested over illegal assembly

Eddie Chu, Wu Chi-wai and ‘Long Hair’ Leung Kwok-hung among opposition activists detained in early morning operation linked to annual protest march on July 1.

9 Dec 2020 - 12:29AMvideocam

A crowd of anti-government protesters gather on Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay during an illegal march on July 1. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong police

Police find explosives at children’s centre, two men held for July 1 blast

Officers say they seized the dangerous materials when searching the workplace of one of the suspects. Two men arrested in relation to an explosion at rubbish bin in Wan Chai after July 1 protests this year.

24 Jul 2020 - 1:51AMvideocam

Cyanide was concealed in ‘poké balls’ when officers searched the workplace of a suspect in a Wan Chai blast on July 1, police said. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong national security law

First person charged under security law remanded after being denied bail

Tong Ying-kit faces secession and terrorism charges in relation to incident on July 1. He is accused of riding a motorcycle into group of police officers while carrying flag calling for liberation of city.

9 Jul 2020 - 10:48AMvideocam

Hong Kong protests

Suspect in Hong Kong police stabbing case remanded in custody

Wong Kwan-wa, 24, appears at Eastern Court to face one count of wounding with intent.

4 Jul 2020 - 11:14AMvideocam

Hong Kong national security law

Leader vows to restore Hong Kong’s battered image, says it will ‘shine again’

Chief Executive Carrie Lam says government will lead economic recovery and rebuild relationship with young people during speech at ceremony to mark 23rd anniversary of return to Chinese rule.

1 Jul 2020 - 4:06PMvideocam

The Chinese flag is raised at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai to mark the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Hong Kong national security law

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.

30 Jun 2020 - 2:20PMvideocam

A worker checks the fence on a footbridge leading to the Legislative Council Complex in Tamar. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong national security law

Hong Kong police ban July 1 march against national security law

Officers cite public health concerns and violence in previous demonstrations to ban the proposed gathering.

27 Jun 2020 - 11:47PM

Hong Kong protests

Organisers expect traditional July 1 march in Hong Kong to be banned

Civil Human Rights Front convenor Jimmy Sham describes ‘lacklustre’ meeting with police, and says force is using coronavirus pandemic as excuse to stop rally, which last year attracted hundreds of thousands of people.

23 Jun 2020 - 11:37PMvideocam

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