LIVE: July 1st Pro-Democracy Rally - Part 2

Click here for part 1 – updates from earlier in the day.

6:05pm – Ray Wong of localist group HK indigenous told HKFP: “July 1 is a large-scale protest that brings out many common people who support democracy. It’s a good opportunity to promote localist thought.”

HK indigenous did not plan on attending the July 1st march changed their minds yesterday after one of their members was convicted in court as assaulting police. They hope to raise awareness of the incident by participating in today’s demonstration.

5:55pm – Hong Kong’s government responds to some of the five demands of this year’s march. Regarding amendments to the Basic Law, a government spokesman said that “this would absolutely not be conducive to the long-term and overall interests and well-being of Hong Kong.”

The spokesman said “it would be infeasible, no matter from the perspectives of constitutional procedures or time for legislative work, for the current-term Government to restart the ‘Five-step Process’ [of political reform] in the coming two years,” ruling out any possibility that the upcoming 2017 election for chief executive will differ from 2012’s.

The spokesman blamed the issue of constitutional development for creating “disputes in society for a long period” and inducing people to take “irrational actions.”

“Such disputes should come to an end,” the spokesman concluded, calling on Hong Kong people to “calm down” and shift their focus to economic development and livelihood issues instead.

5:35pm – Protesters continue to make their way down Hennessy Road in Wan Chai, en route to government HQ at Tamar.

5:30pm – Jonas Chung, 24: “We demand legislation protecting the rights of same-sex couples. We also demand that [Chief Executive] Leung Chun-ying pay attention to LGBT rights.”

5:15pm – Abbie Lam, an undergrad student from the Secondary School Recycling Advocacy Group says, “We collect plastic bottles along the route for recycling. We wish to promote the sense of recycling during the rally.”

5pm – Democratic Party activists are wielding puppets of pro-establishment lawmakers, as well as one of Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying himself.

4:55pm – Concerns were raised earlier today about a water fight organised by localist group Defend Justice, Defend Our Home. The event was cancelled after netizens suggested filling up water pistols with mustard seed water.

4:50pm – Pro-democracy protesters are heckling the pro-Beijing Defend Hong Kong group, who are separated from marchers by police.