A new series of demonstrations are set to take place in Hong Kong this weekend, days after the last anti-government protest on July 1.
They include a self-organised anti-extradition bill rally by Hong Kong mothers at 7pm Friday at Chater Garden. It will be the second rally held by the city’s mothers and organisers have welcomed all to join.
It came after several anti-extradition law marches and rallies in June, with one march attracting two million people, according to organisers. The city has also been reeling from the storming of the Legislative Council by protesters on July 1.
“When young protesters were doing something right, it was easy to support them and clap for them. But when young protesters used up all rational and civilised ways, and only received an arrogant insult by those in power, what can they do?” the mothers’ rally’s organisers said. “Can we choose to stay and listen to them, to understand their pain and to find a way out?”
An anti-extradition law march will be held on Sunday in Kowloon to appeal to mainland tourists. Protesters will rally at Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui at 3:30pm, and march from 4pm to the high-speed rail link’s West Kowloon Terminus.
In a post on the Reddit-like Lihkg forum explaining the rally, one user said Beijing had tried to block mainland Chinese people from gaining information about the anti-extradition bill protests in Hong Kong.
“I don’t know how many mainland tourists will see our messages, but if the central government knows that we have shifted our focus to promoting Hong Kong values to mainland people, the Communist Party will be scared,” the user named VL said.
The march will pass through Salisbury Road and Kowloon Park Drive, but will not pass through Canton Road where tourists often go, because of an objection made by the police.
Several commemoration events will be held on Friday and Saturday for those who died in incidents related to the extradition bill.
On Friday at 8.30pm a group of pastors will hold a prayer session at Ka Fuk Estate in Fanling, where an Education University student fell to her death leaving a message about the extradition law.
If you are experiencing negative feelings, please call: The Samaritans 2896 0000 (24-hour, multilingual), Suicide Prevention Centre 2382 0000 or the Social Welfare Department 2343 2255. The Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology provides a WhatsApp hotline in English and Chinese: 6218 1084. See also: HKFP’s comprehensive guide to mental health services in Hong Kong
A mourning session will then be held at the Education University at 3pm on Saturday.
Another mourning event, which will provide emotional counselling service, will be held at Edinburgh Place in Central at 8pm on Saturday to mourn protesters who died.
Saturday: “Reclaim Tuen Mun Park” protest against noisy “Singing Aunties” monopolising public space. 3pm from San Wo Lane Playground to Tuen Mun Park’s south gate. Activist Michael Mo received a letter of no objection. pic.twitter.com/1pdhTW0lzy
— Elson Tong (@elson_tong) July 4, 2019
Meanwhile, some are set to build on the momentum of recent protests in hosting a “reclaim Tuen Mun Park” rally, in response to complaints over noise, indecent performances, and the management and misuse of public space.
Marchers will gather at San Wo Lane Playground at 2:30pm Saturday and march to Tuen Mun Park at 3pm.
