The ban could fuel turnout at a two-day general strike called to start on Monday if the government didn’t concede to its major demands by Saturday, the SCMP said. It could also trigger further outcry as the rally was planned for the fifth anniversary of China’s introduction of an electoral reform package that would have restricted democratic freedoms and was later rejected by Hong Kong.
(Aug 29): Hong Kong police banned a protest set for Saturday by the organiser of previous historic mass marches, the group said, in a move that could anger protesters ahead of a planned 13th straight week of pro-democracy demonstrations.
Police believe approving the Civil Human Rights Front’s planned march was too risky due to safety concerns after violence flared at rallies last weekend, the South China Morning Post reported earlier Thursday, citing an unidentified police source. Bonnie Leung, CHRF’s vice-convener, told Bloomberg News that police had banned the Saturday rally and the group was planning to appeal. Some previous rallies have been approved at the last minute after negotiations with police.
