Appeal Against Ban On Yuen Long Rally Rejected

The applicant of a planned protest in Yuen Long on Saturday, Max Chung, has lost an appeal against the police’s decision to ban the march.

Members of the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions unanimously ruled that the march would pose serious threats to the safety of the public.

The chairman of the board, Pang Kin-kei, announced the decision after a four-hour meeting.

On Thursday, the police had also said they feared the march would lead to clashes between protesters and villagers.

The police later told the media that they had received more than a thousand letters from Yuen Long residents and villagers urging them not to allow a demonstration.

The protest march was planned over an attack by a group of armed men on MTR passengers and bystanders that the gang suspected had earlier taken part in a mass rally against the government lst Sunday.

Speaking after the meeting, Chung said he's very angry and disappointed by the decision.

But he said the appeal board has no other option but to make that decision because of what he sees as limitations under the Public Order Ordinance - which bars the Appeal Board from adding extra conditions to his original proposal:

Chung also said that he would walk alone at 3pm from the Shui Ping Tsuen Playground to the Yuen Long MTR station on Saturday.

He stressed that this is an individual action and urged people not to follow him.

Chung also said he would like to ask the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, whether the government is effectively imposing a curfew in Yuen Long on Saturday from 12pm to midnight.

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