Protests have been planned ahead of Hong Kong’s chief executive election on Sunday.
Groups will march on Saturday at 5pm from the East Point Road in Causeway Bay to the Exhibition and Convention Centre in Wan Chai, and on Sunday at 9:30am from the Family Planning Association office near Wan Chai MTR exit B2 to the Exhibition and Convention Centre. The Centre is where the election will be held.
Organisers The Civil Human Rights Front said it opposed the small circle election whereby only 1,194 electors are able to choose the city’s next leader.
“We are not rallying for Carrie Lam, John Tsang, or Woo Kwok-hing,” said convener Au Nok-hin, also a Democratic Party district councillor.
The group said Beijing’s interference in the Hong Kong election was getting more and more serious, as the China Liaison Office in Hong Kong has been reportedly asserting greater pressure on electors to support a particular candidate.
Au said the group will not apply for a letter of no objection from the police for the marches, though the police have been notified of the marches.
Au said he expected 7,000 will participate in the marches over the weekend. Asked if the estimate was too optimistic, Au said the issue for genuine universal suffrage was not controversial, that he will keep being optimistic and urge the public to join.
He said the group’s ultimate goal was to get to Golden Bauhinia Square and host a rally on Saturday, but he said his communication with the police suggested they were unwilling to allow protesters to use the square.
Au said he was aware that some grassroots groups planned to stay overnight.
The group also hoped to host a rally on Sunday at the entrance of the Convention Centre.
“We will not ask participants to block electors from entering the venue, since it would be an offence according to the law… I respect the decision of any groups if they urge such actions, but they need to take notice of the risks,” he said.
