Protesters were expected to take to the streets of Hong Kong today in defiance of a police ban on a major rally. But instead, authorities were seen raising the yellow flag at a religious gathering in central Hong Kong’s Southhorn Playground.

A crowd of both young and old pumped their fists as they chanted slogans in the stands of the soccer field early Saturday afternoon. Others could reportedly be heard singing “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord”.

One social media user alleged it was a pro-democracy protest merely being called a ‘religious rally’ in order to be exempt from needing police permission.

Amazing 😎 (police have banned today's march so #HongKong-ers are having a "religious" rally, supposedly exempt from needing police permission) https://t.co/weRufX7UWl — Alice Su (@aliceysu) August 31, 2019

The peaceful Christian rally was promptly shut down by police who were seen raising the yellow flag, meaning those in the stadium were in breach of the law and could be prosecuted if they stayed.

Those in the stadium maintained they weren’t doing anything illegal, just praying.

#HongKong #PoliceBrutality A peaceful christian gathering met with police forces pulling up yellow flag, meaning they will be prosecuted if they stay. pic.twitter.com/tX0lbEreAT — James Chan (@JamesCh84191368) August 31, 2019

Yellow flag already raised in #HongKong. Police warn ~1000 people sitting in the stands at Wanchai’s Southorn playground they’re in breach of the law, may be prosecuted. This city marks the contentious 5th anniversary when Beijing denied Hong Kong’s demand for universal suffrage. pic.twitter.com/lrQTk4kMvP — Ramy Inocencio 英若明 (@RamyInocencio) August 31, 2019

If authorities in #HongKong and China thought they didn’t have a problem anymore after a wave of arrests of pro-democracy leaders, they do now. High probability of hundreds of thousand of protesters judging by Sat am turnout so far. This is big. Tipping point? #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/1STxu1lIOY — Michael Bociurkiw (@WorldAffairsPro) August 31, 2019

APP BACKS PROTESTERS

Despite police banning protest marches and doing their utmost to shut down any large gatherings, messaging app Telegram is still giving organisers the opportunity to mobilise.

Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, will release an update over the next few days that will allow users to cloak their identities in the app’s group chats.

The app is set to introduce a new function, allowing users to disable matching by phone number, reports Reuters.

The update will help thousands of Hong Kong protesters take their cues from more than 100 groups on Telegram, all while blocking their identities from Chinese authorities.

MULTIPLE ARRESTS

Protesters witnessed a sweep of arrests in Hong Kong overnight, with authorities detaining a number of prominent activists and three lawmakers since Friday.

The leading face of the Hong Kong pro-democracy resistance, Joshua Wong, has vowed not to give up after he was among those arrested and charged with inciting others to join a protest outside a police station in June.

The leading democracy activist was a day ahead of a planned rally in the city that has been banned by police.

“Our secretary-general @joshuawongcf was just arrested this morning at roughly 7:30,” Demosisto tweeted.

“He was forcefully pushed into a private mini-van on the street in broad daylight. Our lawyers following the case now.”

After he and fellow activist Agnes Chow were charged, the pair were released on bail.

On his release, Wong told reporters that “we will continue our fight no matter how they arrest and prosecute us.”.

Chow echoed his comments, saying “we Hong Kong people won’t give up and won’t be scared … we will keep fighting for democracy.”

"We will continue our fight, no matter how they arrest and prosecute us."



Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has been released on bail after being charged with unlawfully organizing a protest. pic.twitter.com/9NE4KRJqPH — AJ+ (@ajplus) August 30, 2019

Even Beijing and HKGov arrested and prosecuted me & @chowtingagnes, we will not surrender even after we were charged with organising, leading and participating illegal protest.



Hong Kong should not be a full-fledged authoritarian police state! pic.twitter.com/XReCv0Vk5e — Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 (@joshuawongcf) August 30, 2019

Their arrests preceded those of three pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmakers, detained overnight.

Police say they detained one — Cheng Chung-tai — on suspicion of breaking into the legislature building and vandalising objects on July 1.

They arrested the other two lawmakers, Au Nok-hin and Jeremy Tam, on allegations of obstructing police from performing their duties.

Protest organisers have cancelled plans to hold a massive demonstration today after police refused to give permission.

However, police insist the timing of the arrests is not related to the protest plan.

ONGOING PROTESTS

Hong Kong has been racked by three months of political unrest, with huge, peaceful demonstrations interspersed by violence and stand-offs between police and protesters.

Saturday marks the fifth anniversary of Beijing’s rejection of a call for universal suffrage in the city, a decision that’s parked the 79-day Umbrella Movement led by mainly young protesters, including Wong.

Permission for a mass rally this weekend was denied on security grounds, raising the likelihood of another weekend of clashes between police and protesters, who will likely come out in defiance of the ban.

The police commander of Hong Kong island, Kwok Pak Chung, appealed to people to stay away from any unauthorised rallies, warning that those caught could face a five-year jail term.

BREAKING: Our secretary-general @joshuawongcf was just arrested this morning at roughly 7:30, when he was walking to the South Horizons MTR station. He was forcefully pushed into a private minivan on the street in broad daylight. Our lawyers following the case now. — Demosistō 香港眾志 (@demosisto) August 30, 2019

（forwarded)



What's happened in the past 30 hrs:



Jimmy, convenor of CHRF, attacked;



Andy, convenor of National Party, arrested;



KP, applicant of Yuen Long march, attacked;



Joshua and Agnes of Demosisto, arrested.



Hong Kong has become an authoritarian police state. — Nathan Law 羅冠聰 (@nathanlawkc) August 30, 2019

In a letter to the rally organisers the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), police said they feared some participants would commit “violent and destructive acts”.

The protests ignited when the city’s Beijing-backed government tried to pass a bill allowing extraditions to mainland China.

But they have evolved into a wider call for greater democracy and an investigation into allegations of police brutality.

Protesters say freedoms in the semi-autonomous city, unique within China, are being eroded by Beijing.

The reported arrest came after pictures emerged over the past few days showing Chinese tanks and troops moving through the streets of Hong Kong, where entrenched protesters refused to move on.

The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted the 22nd rotation of its members in the wee hours of Thursday since it began garrisoning Hong Kong in 1997 https://t.co/kJuYDo5dvr pic.twitter.com/ZweNneT4Fs — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 28, 2019

Images of the armoured vehicles were shared by Chinese state media and showed tanks and personnel carriers crossing the border overnight.

A boat carrying Chinese soldiers also docked in the city overnight.

The Chinese Government claimed the operation was part of routine patrols by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

More than 850 people have been arrested in connection with the recent protests since June.