Police Okay Kowloon March, But Curb Umbrellas

Police have given their permission for an extradition bill protest march through tourist hotspots in Kowloon this Sunday, but on the condition that participants don't bring umbrellas with "sharp edges".

It was not clear from the police letter what kind of umbrellas are not allowed.

Organisers of the march, arranged on the popular LIHKG online forum, say they are planning a peaceful event aimed at explaining the controversy to mainland visitors who are unlikely to have seen news back home on the SAR's political turmoil.

The march is expected to start from Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui at 4pm, with a procession along Kowloon Park Drive, Canton Road, and then into Austin Road, before ending outside the West Kowloon express rail station.

Although the observatory is forecasting showers on Sunday, police say in their letter of no objection that organisers must ensure participants “are not allowed to carry anything that can be used as a weapon… such as [an] umbrella with [a] sharp edge”.

Other items prohibited include powder or liquids that could cause bodily harm, lasers that could hurt people's eyes, glass bottles and other hard objects.

The police's letter also says marchers are not allowed to stay at the end point or enter areas managed by the MTR Corporation without the railway company’s approval.

While many netizens agree the rally should “show the peaceful side” of protesters, others hinted that they have other plans.

One said on the forum that he’s “already planned what to tell mainland people, and can’t wait to have fun”, while another said he will tour West Kowloon Station after the march "to enjoy the air conditioning".

Sunday's march will be the first protest action over the extradition bill in Kowloon, with the series of demonstrations that have taken place so far restricted to various parts of Hong Kong Island.