Permission rejected for Sunday march in Kwai Fong

Police say the route protesters sought was not suitable and allotted an alternative venue for a rally. File photo: RTHK

Police have have rejected an application for a protest march in Kwai Fong this Sunday, citing the proximity of the planned route to a cross border bus terminal and police facilities.



However, the force granted permission for a gathering at Tsuen Wan Park – which was the original end point of the route proposed by march organisers.



They had applied to hold a rally at Kwai Fong railway station bus terminal, as well as a a subsequent march from there.



Police said the venue was not suitable for holding a public rally as it's in a busy area with many commuters coming there for cross-border buses.



The area is also close to the Kwai Chung and Tsuen Wan police stations and the New Territories South Regional Headquarters – facts that were cited as further reasons to deny the request.



On previous occasions, protesters have ignored police bans and carried on with unsanctioned marches. Last weekend, it was estimated that 1.7 million turned out for a rally at Victoria Park, in a rally that morphed into a march as tens of thousands of people occupied streets across a wide area of Hong Kong Island.