'More Mass Protests Likely If Govt Doesn't Listen'

Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung on Monday warned that Hong Kong will see more protests like Sunday's rally in which tens of thousands took to the streets if the government does not listen to the public.

He slammed the government's response to the protest march as arrogant and said the administration had showed its disrespect for the people.

Referring to Acting Chief Executive Matthew Cheung's comment that the thousands of people who took part in the march did not understand planned amendments to extradition laws, Yeung said people in power love using these kind of words.

"It simply shows signs of arrogance and disrespect to the people," he said.

"At the end of the day, for any good governance, they have to listen to the people. If you simply ignore them and if you believe you are the only right person in the room, that is wrong, and that is not going to help," the lawmaker continued.

Yeung said Sunday's rally was a strong warning to the government and there will more to come if officials don't listen to them.

As for a statement from the Civil Human Rights Front saying they will raise the protest level and surround Legco if the government does not withdraw the law changes, Yeung said this will depend on the government's response.

He told RTHK's Janice Wong that similar protests had taken place in 2012 during the national education controversy, adding that the demonstrations were peaceful.