Cultural Centre Slammed By Rival Vigil Organiser

The Cultural Centre has been accused of exercising self-censorship when it processed an application for a candlelight vigil for Monday night.

A co-organiser of the event, Michael Mo, said officials rejected their application to hold the memorial outside the centre in Tsim Sha Tsui on administrative grounds, and threatened to take them to court if the vigil went ahead as planned.

He said the 30-minute event is designed for an English-speaking audience - and for people who don't agree with the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which is holding a vigil in Victoria Park on Monday.

Mo said he had not received a letter of no objection from the police, but added that the event would go ahead as planned near the Flying Frenchman Monument.

In response, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said Mo failed to attach the registration documents of his group when he filed his application on the second of May.

He said officers replied to Mo several days later asking him to provide the relevant documents, but he hadn't replied and therefore they could not process his application.

The spokesman added, if necessary, the department will refer any activities that are against regulations to the Department of Justice for follow up.

Last updated: 2018-06-03 HKT 20:31