Tensions Flare In Causeway Bay Ahead Of Rally

Tension was building up in Causeway Bay on Saturday afternoon as thousands of people streamed into Victoria Park to attend what was billed as multiple election campaign rallies by pro-democracy district council candidates.

Dozens of riot police were on standby around the park, and several arrests had been made, including a man who was dramatically wrestled to the ground while trying to run away.

By around 3.15pm, the crowd was blocking both sides of Hennessy Road near Sogo.

Speaking through loudhailers, officers warned the black-clad protesters to leave the scene immediately, saying they were engaged in an illegal assembly.

Officers also demanded that demonstrators remove their face masks, saying they had already violated an anti-mask law.

But the majority of protesters remained defiant as they hurled abuse at officers and continued making their way into Victoria Park.

The pro-democracy candidates' plan to organise campaign meetings in the park was a bid to skirt the need for police permission to hold a mass rally.

Their decision came after an appeal board on Thursday upheld a police ban on an assembly at the same venue to call for international support for Hong Kong's autonomy.

The election candidates had set up some booths in the park, but there didn't appear to be much campaigning taking place.

Wayne, a tourist from Canada, said he had decided to join the rally as a show of support for Hong Kong's protesters.

"I think it's important to democracy so that's kinda why we are also here. I hear there's been a bit of violence so I'm a bit worried, but I think we'll probably stick a bit away and not to get too involved," he said.

A woman surnamed Chan, who said she works in the education sector, told RTHK that the public have no choice but to keep hitting the streets until the government listens to their demands.

"The government has done nothing and still supports the police force. We as citizens of Hong Kong have already raised our concerns, but our voice has still not reached [Chief Executive] Carrie Lam," Chan said.

Rallies at Chater Garden and Edinburgh Place in Central had received police permission and by around 3.30pm some of the protesters started marching in that direction.

______________________________