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Security guards who stopped pro-independence protesters entering government forecourt were reasonable, says Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam
It is impossible for government to accept promotion of Hong Kong independence on its premises, city’s leader says
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Hong Kong’s leader has said it was “reasonable” to stop protesters holding pro-independence banners entering the forecourt of government headquarters after a rally on Monday.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was referring to a pro-democracy march, organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, from Causeway Bay to the forecourt at Tamar.
“It is impossible for the government to accept the promotion of Hong Kong independence on its premises … so the [government’s] administrative wing and security guards’ warnings were reasonable and natural,” she said.
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Monday’s National Day rally drew a crowd of about 1,500 people, according to organisers, demanding an inquiry into recent scandals surrounding the city’s most expensive rail project, the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.4 billion) Sha Tin-Central link, as well as protesting against the government’s unprecedented ban of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party (HKNP).
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Police estimated 1,256 people attended the march at its peak.
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