'Extradition Bill Not Just A Concern For Young'

Organisers of a march by elderly people in support of the youth-led protest movement against proposals to change the extradition law say more than 8,000 people joined their demonstration.

Clad mostly in white, the protesters went from Chater Garden to government headquarters in Admiralty. Police put the turnout at 1,500.

March organiser Wong Po-hei, who was coordinating a protest for the first time despite being aged in her 60s, said she was satisfied with the turnout. And she stressed that the issue that sparked the march – the possibility of extradition to the mainland – was not only of concern to the young.

"We hope that we can send out a message – to all the citizens in Hong Kong and also to the government – that the seniors in our society support what the young people are asking for.

"What they are asking for it also our request, and actually, I don't like the saying that the society belongs to the youth and only the youth can do something like that. We are also stakeholders."

Marcher Robin Snell said he would continue to support the anti-extradition protests, adding: "I'm going to stay here until the end. The end meaning my end. I'm in it for the long run and I think that's the way we have to do it. I think we stay here and we voice our opinions; we write to people and we talk to people."

They were also demanding that the government withdraw the extradition bill completely, set up an independent commission of inquiry to look into recent events, drop charges against protesters and give Hong Kong people universal suffrage.

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