'To Kwa Wan Rally To Go Ahead If There Is No Ban'

Organisers of a proposed march in To Kwa Wan on July 27 to protest against alleged overcrowding due to low-cost bus tours in the residential district say they will go ahead with their demonstration, unless the police specifically tell them that permission has been denied.

This comes after police gave the organisers a series of questions asking for more details about the rally, which the organisers say are too difficult to answer in such a short period of time.

Timothy Lee, a community officer for To Kwa Wan South, said he suspects that the police are asking them to provide written answers for 30 questions over the organiser's background and the march arrangements in two days, just to discourage the demonstration.

He said unless the police inform them in writing that they do not have the force's approval for the protest, they'll go ahead with the march.

Lee said he is not worried about potential clashes after the rally "as long as police are restrained".

The organiser also said they will post rally marshalls at the end point of the rally to tell protesters how the leave the area if they want to.

DAB district councillors in To Kwa Wan have already called on the organisers not to press ahead with the rally, saying some residents have already expressed concern that the event could lead to violence.

The area has been flooded with low-cost tours from the mainland for visitors to shop and dine there since the Zhuhai-Macau bridge opened and many residents complain that their lives have been disrupted.