[ad_1]
HONG KONG – As the weather begins to burn in Hong Kong, tensions are also on the rise as protests are expected to return after three months of calm after the coronavirus outbreak in December.
In the past week, netizens, who have been at a low level since the start of the pandemic, began circulating messages on social media and online, urging people to join the planned protests in the coming months.
One of those calls is for protests on Friday (May 1) at 2pm in at least five locations: Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Tai Po, and Sai Ying Pun, where the Beijing Liaison Office is located.
Another message now circulating online is for people to mark the year since hundreds of thousands surrounded the Legislative Council on June 12 to block second reading of the now-filed extradition bill.
Clashes between protesters and police erupted that day, with the latest shots of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse violent and peaceful protesters.
Large-scale protests are also underway for June 4 to mark the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown in 1989, and the annual July 1 march that marks Hong Kong’s 1997 surrender back to China.
The request of the Confederation of Trade Unions (CTU) for its annual procession on Friday was denied by the police despite the calm of its president Carol Ng, who said that the march will be carried out in accordance with the existing social distancing rules.
On Wednesday, Ms Ng said street stalls will be set up across Hong Kong to mark Labor Day after she failed in her appeal against the authorities’ ban on a proposed march, an annual tradition that has spanned more than 30 years.
The government has extended existing social distancing measures until May 7, which include restricting public meetings to no more than four people and tables in restaurants at a distance of at least 1.5m.
The Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), which organized some of the city’s largest marches with record results last year, is gearing up for the annual march on July 1.
His deputy convener, Mr. Eric Lai, said: “We are requesting the no objection letter for the July 1 rally and so far, there has been no police response.”
“But the police have barred CTU’s request for a no objection letter and we are cautious of what will happen.”
When asked about possible participation, particularly because the pandemic has been cited by authorities as a security concern for denying protest requests, Mr. Lai said: “In our experience, all political incidents (which occur before of the event) will shake up the results of the protests, so we never know how many people will show up. “
He noted that public opinion polls continue to show low levels of public confidence in the government, adding that protesters continue to press for their demands, including responsibility for police brutality and universal suffrage.
The organizer of the annual June 4 candlelight vigil in Victoria Park, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of China’s Democratic Patriotic Movements, could apply for permission in May.
Lunchtime protests and the singing of protest hymns in shopping malls, common features of the anti-government movement in the second half of last year, have returned in recent weeks after being suspended since the start of the outbreak.
About 100 people gathered Tuesday night at the IFC shopping center in Central, while around 300 protesters gathered at the Cityplaza shopping center in Taikoo Shing on Sunday.
Both events were met with a large riot police presence, where people were detained and searched, and black-clad participants and journalists fined for violating the four-person rule.
Attorney General Teresa Cheng on Monday rejected suggestions that the police are abusing the ban on government meetings in an attempt to quell the protests.
But last year’s summer of dissent seems to return, as the pan-Democrats had earlier promised to organize protests, whether or not they get police approval.
The president of the Hong Kong Pro-Government Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), Wong Kwok, noted that Hong Kong had suffered eight months of violence since mid-2019, led by anti-government protesters.
The city has also been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has endangered the economy and people’s livelihoods.
“Unemployment has increased in recent months and our members who have lost their jobs have to rely on government subsidies for their livelihood,” said Wong, adding that in recent times, “there are signs that young people are being encouraged. protesters to return to violent action. ” “They must stop to avoid the risk of further social catastrophes.”
The FTU had previously filed a request to hold a rally on Friday, but then withdrew it due to concerns about transmission of the virus.
The increase in protests is due to what the city’s health experts said was the stabilization of the outbreak in Hong Kong, which would facilitate measures of social distancing.
The number of new confirmed cases of Covid-19 went from double digits earlier in the month to single digits in the past two weeks.
And for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, Hong Kong did not record any new cases, totaling 1,037 and four deaths.
Still, Associate Professor Sing Ming of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology believes that rules of social distancing and stricter surveillance will put a limit on the number of protesters.
“If we take a quick look at what happened last night in one or two shopping malls and what happened at Taikoo Shing, you will discover that the police have taken a very hostile stance towards any of those meetings that were simply (activities where people were) Singing songs.
“This type of very severe treatment of protesters will continue until May, and the traditionally large demonstrations on May 1 will probably be canceled.”
[ad_2]
