March Begins As Unions Say Strike Is Still On

The second mass rally against the government's extradition bill has just got under way, as public anger continues despite the Chief Executive Carrie Lam announcing its temporary suspension yesterday.

Tens of thousands had already arrived at Victoria Park as the rally started slightly early at 2.45pm, with many more still on their way.

The MTR says some trains will not stop at Tin Hau station because of crowd management. Measures are also in place to keep crowds under control at Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Mong Kok and Yau Tong stations.

The rally's organisers are hoping for another big turnout like last Sunday, to push for the full withdrawal of the bill and Lam's resignation.

Civil Human Rights Front spokeswoman Bonnie Leung said: "What I really want is for Carrie Lam to withdraw the bill and relieve all the social pressure. So we demand Carrie Lam apologise to the people, to apologise to the protesters, also to withdraw saying that the protest was a riot...

"Only when Carrie Lam apologises, withdraws the bill and steps down will Hong Kong people end all of our protests," she said.

"We believe that the suspension of the bill is a tactic of the Hong Kong government; that they only do this not to really listen to the people, not to do real amendments to protect Hong Kong's freedom and Hong Kong's rule of law."

Last Sunday up to a million people turned out to protest against the extradition bill - the biggest rally here since the handover.

Meanwhile it's been announced that unions and other groups are still planning to go a head with strikes planned for Monday. Reports on Saturday that the action had been called off appear to have been due to miscommunication between various organisers.

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