Police ban Monday rally at Tsim Sha Tsui

Representatives of the group organising a two-day general strike had wanted to hold rallies in Tsim Sha Tsui and Admiralty on Monday. File photo: RTHK

Police have banned a planned rally in Tsim Sha Tsui on Monday next week that was to have coincided with the launch of a two-day general strike, concluding that it would severely endanger public safety.



The decision comes a day after police banned a planned mass anti-extradition rally on Saturday, called by the Civil Human Rights Front on similar grounds.



An unnamed group claiming to represent more than 20 professional sectors had applied for police permission to hold two simultaneous rallies at Salisbury Park in Tsim Sha Tsui, and at Tamar Park in Admiralty by the government headquarters.



There was no word yet on the Admiralty application, but on Friday night, organisers said the Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station notified them that their rally has been banned because the force has reason to believe that the planned gathering – like past demonstrations over the past weeks – would have resulted in violence and serious injuries, the large-scale destruction of public property, extensive road blockages, and the targeting of government and police facilities.



A letter sent to the organisers also said since the area has a very high flow of pedestrians, should violence break out, it would severely endanger people’s safety.



It also said the venue for the planned rally is close to popular shopping destinations such as Nathan Road, and Canton Road and police do not believe that the organisers can effectively ensure that order would be kept, and the procession would be safe.



The same group is also planning a separate rally on Tuesday next week at Chater Garden, to highlight what they say are egregious police abuses during their handling of the anti-extradition movement, and to urge the government to give a concrete response to protesters’ five core demands – including the total withdrawal of the extradition bill; amnesty for protesters, an independent inquiry into how police dealt with the demonstrations; and full democracy.