Keep torch of democracy alive, Occupy leaders tell Hongkongers

Occupy organisers called on Hongkongers to stay the course and put their support of democracy into practice at the social level on the first anniversary of the civil disobedience movement.

Benny Tai Yiu-ting, one of the trio who launched the citywide campaign a year ago today, said: “We can imagine that if the central government continues to deny Hongkongers genuine democracy, the people of Hong Kong will come out again.”

Speaking on stage to hundreds of rally participants, Tai continued: “The year 2014 must be one of the most important pages in Hong Kong’s history. The ‘umbrella movement’ was testimony to the determination of Hongkongers, which surpassed the Occupy trio’s determination [to strive in] love and peace.”

He pledged there would definitely be “ongoing citywide direct” movements to fight for democracy.

Scholarism student activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung said September 28 should not turn into a day of festivities.