Beijing official sets anti-independence limits for Hong Kong as thousands march against government push to disqualify lawmakers
Claiming over 9,000 participated, organisers seek to raise HK$5 million to pay for legislators’ legal costs
Thousands of Hongkongers marked the first day of 2017 with a street protest against the government’s push to disqualify four pro-democracy lawmakers, while Beijing’s top man in the city spelled out the limits as he warned against independence advocacy.
The Civil Human Rights Front, which organised the New Year’s Day rally, put the turnout at more than 9,000, and apologised for the relatively low number. Police put the turnout at 4,800 at the peak.
The organiser attributed the low turnout to the lack of a central figure to draw opposing crowds after Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced last month that he would not seek a second term because of family reasons. “Many citizens thought all problems would be resolved after Leung’s withdrawal and were relieved,” Front convenor Au Nok-hin said.
The annual rally went ahead as Zhang Xiaoming, director of Beijing’s liaison office, who had skipped a number of public events and not spoken publicly since Leung’s stunning announcement, broke his silence in an exclusive interview with state broadcaster CCTV.