Police approve front march for first time in months

Marches organised by the CHRF attract massive crowds, with the group saying around two million took part in their anti-extradition bill demonstration on June 16. File photo: AFP

The police have given their permission for a march organised by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) this Sunday, with the demonstration likely to attract a huge crowd.



The march, to mark next week's Human Rights Day, is to set off from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay at 3pm, bound for Chater Road in Central.



The force says participants can rally in the park from midday, but the whole demonstration must come to an end by 10pm.



Despite granting the CHRF a "Letter of No Objection" for the march, the police say they have concerns that "dissidents" could join the crowd and this "may lead to a breach of the peace or other unlawful activities".



They say the organisers must take reasonable and appropriate measures to ensure the event is conducted in a lawful and orderly manner, including that participants do not threaten any other person, and that no SAR or national flags are desecrated.



Demonstrations organised by the CHRF have attracted the biggest crowds since the extradition bill crisis erupted early in June, with the group saying some two million took part in their march on June 16.



Sunday's march will be the first CHRF demonstration to receive police approval since August 18.



Last Sunday, the police approved three marches organised by other groups. The biggest, from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom, quickly descended into violence, with police firing tear gas at the marchers.