Hong Kong government to appeal High Court decision removing restrictions on protests outside its headquarters
- Administration Wing to seek clarity on ‘some important legal principles’
- Move comes after judge ruled restrictions on use of space were unconstitutional
Hong Kong’s government is to appeal a court ruling over the restrictions it imposed on protesters using the fenced-off open square outside the government headquarters in Admiralty.
The Administration Wing, which manages the area, said it was seeking clarity on parts of the ruling as it “involved some important legal principles which have far-reaching impact on the property management work on government premises”.
A 1,000-square-metre open space outside the East Wing of the government headquarters, also dubbed “Civic Square” by activists, the area had been a popular spot for anti-government protests.
But, the area has been cordoned off since September 2014 after it became the flashpoint for repeated high-profile demonstrations, including the 2012 hunger strike against a proposed national education curriculum, and the clash between police and young protesters who that subsequently became the Occupy stand-off in late 2014.
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s administration reopened the forecourt to the public last December, but said interested users must seek approval from the director of administration. And permits to protest at the site would only be granted on Sundays or public holidays.