Bauhinia Square Closed Days Ahead Of Flag-raising

Police have put Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai on lockdown after anti-extradition protesters vowed to disrupt a flag-raising ceremony to mark the anniversary of the handover on Monday.

Large water-filled barriers have been installed, while traffic and pedestrians are not being allowed into the area.

The government will close the adjacent Convention and Exhibition Centre from Sunday, forcing several events taking place there to end early.

Police said they took action after calls circulated online to gather in the area on Sunday ahead of the ceremony.

But the deputy commander for Central district, San Tze-kin, declined to explain in detail what police had planned.

“Police have received information that someone will disturb the flag raising ceremony. Therefore, police have made some appropriate arrangement at Wan Chai North, HKCEC, after conducting risk assessment,” he said. “But it is inappropriate for me to disclose those operational details here.”