Ban On Saturday's Victoria Park Rally Upheld

An appeal board has upheld a police ban on a proposed rally in Victoria Park this Saturday, that was to call for international support for Hong Kong's autonomy.

The board said it believes the protest will pose serious threat to public safety.

Protest organiser, Ventus Lau, said he's not surprised by the decision and complained that the appeal board didn't provide detailed reasons in its ruling.

Lau urged people to join two other pro-democracy events on the same day – a rally in Edinburgh Place calling on Washington to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and an origami crane event in Chater Garden.

He said both rallies have been approved by the police.

Lau said several events by different organisers have surfaced because police have been banning requests for peaceful protests since the summer.

An assistant district commander of operations for Central, Stephen Liauw, welcomed the appeal board’s ruling.

He reminded the public that taking part in prohibited events is an illegal and offenders can face up to five years in jail.