Groups apply to hold July 1 pro-democracy rally

Three groups have sought police approval to stage a march on the July 1 handover anniversary.

Representatives from Tin Shui Wai Connection, Save Lantau Alliance and League of Social Democrats met with police on Saturday to discuss their proposal.

The three groups said the force had asked how they would prevent the spread of Covid-19 and about crowd control measures.

Speaking after the meeting, the representatives said they estimated 10,000 participants would take part and told police that they would arrange for about 100 marshals, provide epidemic supplies to protesters, and start the march earlier if there are too many people joining.

They also revealed that the march will call for the civil society’s right to speak up, resistance to political persecution and the release of political prisoners.

“We basically satisfied the police’s queries over things including our manpower and route and transport arrangements, so we feel we have a reasonable expectation on the police to issue a letter of no objection as soon as possible,” said Eddie Tse from the Save Lantau Alliance.

The application comes after the organiser of the annual pro-democracy march, the Civil Human Rights Front, said it will not be applying to hold a protest march that day for the first time in 18 years following the jailing of its convenor, Figo Chan, over an unauthorised protest in 2019.

The Front did apply to hold a July 1 protest last year but was rejected by the police citing the local epidemic situation.

The groups said they plan to follow the route taken by the Front in previous July 1 protests, marching from Victoria Park to the government headquarters in Tamar.