Organiser Vows That Mass Rally Will Be Peaceful

The organiser of Sunday's mass anti-government rally at Victoria Park has downplayed the prospect of the demonstration descending into violence, and says it will remain peaceful.

Similar rallies in recent weeks have been followed by clashes between protesters and the police, but a vice convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, Bonnie Leung, called on protesters to use non-violent means to pressure the government.

Leung said netizens have helped the group promote the message that "today is a day of peacefulness.

"So I'm very confident that when we have this agreement (to remain non-violent) we can do it," Leung said.

"Hong Kong people have always been peaceful.. It was the government's ignorance and their arrogance that made a lot of young protesters feel that they have no other way to protest except to do more radical action," she added.

Ms Lee, a 30-year-old medical worker, says she joined the rally to protest against police handling of recent protests, singling out the Junior Police Officers' Association which called protesters "cockroach-like rioters".

Lee called on the police to "do what is right" and stop their violence against Hong Kong people".

Another protester, who brought his son to the rally, says he had to speak out because he's worried about the erosion of the city's civil liberties.

"I want to help him to fight for that. because this may be the last chance that we can stand up freely," he said.

Tens of thousands of people have filled up Victoria Park for the rally, braving a slight drizzle and chanting slogans like "Carrie Lam step down", "Hang on Hong Kongers" and "Support Journalists".

People are still arriving, clogging the transport system. The MTR Corporation warned that both Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations were overcrowded and for safety reasons some trains will not stop at the station.

However, protesters are making their way on foot to the venue, with some using Hennessy Road, because of the crowds, filling up the traffic lanes outside Sogo.

Paterson Street, Cleveland Street, Gloucester Road (northbound between Causeway Bay Road and Inner Gloucester Road) and Gloucester Road (southbound between Gloucester Road westbound and Causeway Road) have been temporarily closed, and motorists are advised to seek other routes.

Organisers had wanted to follow the rally with a march, but police denied permission.

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