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HK handover 20th anniversary
Hong KongPolitics

No political motivation involved in July 1 Victoria Park booking, insists Hong Kong pro-Beijing stalwart

Cheng Yiu-tong insists everything was done by the book, while organiser of annual anti-government march says they are looking at alternative starting point

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Cheng Yiu-tong insists that the booking of the soccer pitches at Victoria Park was not politically motivated. Photo: Dickson Lee
Raymond YeungandKimmy Chung

The head of a pro-Beijing committee in charge of commemorative events for the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China denied their decision to hold an event at Victoria Park on July 1 – the starting point for the annual anti-government rally – was politically motivated.

Cheng Yiu-tong of the Hong Kong Celebrations Association instead asked the public to be “fairer”, as this was only the first time they had applied for the use of six soccer pitches.

For the first time since 2004, rally organiser the Civil Human Rights Front will not be able to use the soccer grounds as the starting point for the march, which may affect the turnout.
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During a press conference with 40 pro-Beijing groups on Monday, Cheng insisted everything was done by the book.

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“We have received official confirmation from the Home Affairs Department that the venue has been granted for our use,” Cheng said, adding they made the application on March 15.

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