Sunday Rally End Time Extended, End Point Remains

The Civil Human Rights Front says it’s disappointed with the outcome of its appeal against the police’s suggestion to change the route and ending time of its planned rally on Sunday.

An appeal board has decided to extend the end time of the rally on Sunday to 11.59pm. However, they did not overturn the police’s suggestion that the march must end in Wan Chai, rather than in Central.

It also said the Civil Human Rights Front would need to urge protesters to “leave immediately” once they reach the end point.

The front’s vice-convenor Bonnie Leung said they wanted to end the march in Central or Admiralty, instead of Wan Chai, because the end point selected by the police is already quite crowded with people going to or leaving the annual book fair at the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“It would be very difficult for all these people to disperse in this district,” Leung said.

She said she wasn’t convinced by the police’s assertion that it had plans to help protesters leave the area.

“So we really hope that the police can tell the public, tell the protesters on site, how should they leave, so that everyone can leave peacefully and effectively without any chaos happening,” Leung said.

She said the front would do its best to protect protesters, but if any chaos does occur, the police force and the appeal board should take full responsibility.