Police Stop And Search Lunchtime Protesters

Police entered the Landmark in Central on Tuesday lunchtime to conduct searches after a group of people staged a protest inside the mall against the national security law.

Protesters were seen holding posters opposing the national security law, and calling on people to take to the streets on July 1.

Some members of the crowd had displayed a pro-independence flag and were then searched.

Police intervened as RTHK was interviewing a man surnamed Ho, carrying out searches of both the protester and the reporter.

The reporter was ordered to stop filming and to stop speaking English after saying "here you go" as she handed over her ID card to an officer.

Ho was holding a pro-independence flag during the interview, and was telling the reporter that he would bring the flag to an expected protest on Wednesday "to see if anything happens", given that nobody knows the details of the new law.

A woman surnamed Wong said she attends lunchtime protests at the Landmark from time to time and she works in the building.

She said she was upset by the police actions on Tuesday, describing them as "ridiculous".

"I guess we'll have to get used to this since the passing of the national security law," Wong said.

"We had freedom of association, of assembly, but obviously we don't have these anymore. We are just chanting slogans but now this is not allowed."