Attendees Denounce Violence At Safeguard HK Rally

Organisers of a “Safeguard Hong Kong” rally that was held in Tamar Park on Saturday said 316,000 people took part.

Police put the crowd’s numbers at 103,000 at its peak.

The pro-government organisers of the event had called on people to rally at the park near the Legislative Council and the government complex. Many heeded the organisers’ call for attendees to dress in white, and not cover their faces with masks or helmets.

Demonstrators held up placards, and chanted slogans like "support police", and "safeguard Hong Kong”.

Various speakers took turns to address the crowds in front of a giant screen near the waterfront. They included former Justice Secretary Elsie Leung, a deputy director of Beijing’s Basic Law Committee Maria Tam, DAB chairwoman Starry Lee, New People’s Party chairwoman and executive councillor Regina Ip, as well as former Legco president Tsang Yok-sing.

Speakers denounced acts of violence and said Hong Kong should return to peace.

One demonstrator in her late 60s, who gave her name as Ms Yuen, says she attended the rally because she felt the situation in Hong Kong had got out of hand, and she is worried about the young people who have taken part in anti-extradition protests.

She also said she supports the police’s work in dispersing protesters.

Another attendee at the rally, a Mr Poon, says he thinks the police have been unfairly treated in this recent political turmoil.

He says he doesn’t think the police had ever used excessive force against protesters, and that they were simply doing their job to disperse some violent protesters:

The rally, which started at about 5pm, ended at around 7pm with crowds dispersing peacefully.