Large-scale Marches Can Still Take Place: Ip Kwok-him

Executive councillor Ip Kwok-him on Monday dismissed suggestions that large-scale protests will no longer be allowed, saying they could still go ahead as long as the aim is not to “oppose China and disrupt Hong Kong”.

Ip was speaking a day after the Civil Human Rights Front – organiser of the annual July 1 rally – announced its dissolution citing suppression from the authorities.

The Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress said the front’s demise only signified that "large-scale anti-China demonstrations to stir up troubles in Hong Kong had become history", and people could still express their opinions by taking to the streets.

“As long as the activities are not aimed at opposing China and disrupting Hong Kong, but are expressing a demand, they are protected by the Basic Law and we respect that,” said Ip.

“But if they are being held out of dissatisfaction of the country’s politics or the order of Hong Kong, of course they could not go ahead,” he added.

Ip said the front had been an anti-government platform all along, and alleged that there had been "foreign powers" behind the group.

He said the government had nonetheless addressed demands voiced at the July 1 protests in the past, because it respected every resident's opinions.

Meanwhile, the front's former convenor, Johnson Yeung, told the same radio programme that he was saddened by the umbrella group’s disbandment, saying it was disheartening to see the authorities trying to eliminate opposition.

Yeung added that while it might be hard to organise large protests in the near future, people can always find other ways to air their views.

"People have to remember that there are different groups and individuals behind each alliance. As long as individuals... insist on keeping [our] values, the civil society won't die.”