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The West Kowloon station is a public facility that people can enter freely, the rally organiser says. Photo: Alvin Lum

Organisers promise next major protest against Hong Kong’s extradition bill will be ‘peaceful, rational and graceful’ with the aim of gaining support from mainland Chinese visitors

  • They dismiss concerns about the risk of violence and chaos seen at past protests, with at least 2,000 people expected to march on Sunday afternoon
  • But MTR has stopped selling tickets for high-speed rail trips across border as rally is due to head to West Kowloon station after leaving Tsim Sha Tsui
Organisers promised on Saturday that the next major protest against the Hong Kong government’s extradition bill – this time with the aim of appealing to mainland Chinese visitors for understanding – would be “peaceful, rational and graceful”.
They dismissed concerns about the risk of violence and chaos seen at past protests, with at least 2,000 people expected to march on Sunday afternoon from the city’s tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui to the West Kowloon station of the cross-border, high-speed rail link.

Localist Ventus Lau Wing-hong, who negotiated the arrangements for the rally with police and the MTR Corporation, stressed that their intention was only to solicit support for their cause from visitors from across the border, and not to enter the railway station or storm into the so-called co-location zone where mainland customs and immigration officials exercise jurisdictional authority.

“We do not encourage or hope any protester will enter the mainland port area … we will not be so silly as to risk being sent to the mainland; I’m sure no one will,” Lau said after surveying the station on Saturday.

Ventus Lau says the intention of the rally is to solicit support from visitors from across the border. Photo: Alvin Lum

“But I would like to reiterate that West Kowloon station is a public facility that people can enter freely. I do not agree that the entrance should be closed because of the protest.”

But, on Sunday morning, MTR Corp said it had stopped selling high-speed rail tickets for journeys starting from noon. Passengers have been advised to consider using Intercity Through Train, East Rail or other transport to cross the border.

Lau said protesters had a right to enter the station and use the railway network to return home as regular passengers after the rally.

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He expected fewer travellers on a Sunday, and added that 40 volunteer marshals drawn from the protesters’ ranks would be deployed to ensure a peaceful and orderly demonstration.

There was no sign of extra security measures around and within the station on Saturday, but the MTR was already taking precautionary measures to divert travellers – a Post reporter found that ticket sales had been suspended for cross-border trains arriving or departing beyond 3pm on Sunday to reduce the number of passengers using the station.

“These are special circumstances – there could be rallies in the afternoon,” a railway staff member explained when asked about travelling to Guangzhou.

“You can come back via Lo Wu station. It’s unclear whether you may come to this station later in the day; that is for the sake of everyone’s safety.”

Online ticket sales remained unaffected for the time being, he added, but there was no guarantee travellers would be able to use the station.

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The MTR announced at 11.45pm on Saturday that in light of the protest, it would only open one entrance for passengers to get into the station and another for those exiting.

“Other exits and entrances of the station will be closed from the start of service for the whole day,” its announcement said, adding that the service at ticket counters and ticket machines would be suspended as well.

It also said only passengers with valid tickets or ticket purchase verification would be allowed to enter the station via the designated entrance.

Staff at a souvenir shop and a restaurant at the station said they had been reminded that roads could be blocked on Sunday afternoon.

Mainland laws are applied in parts of the West Kowloon station. Photo: Nora Tam

The station has been targeted before by protesters challenging the application of mainland laws on Hong Kong soil, but Sunday’s march will mark the first rally on the Kowloon side against the now-suspended bill, which would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to mainland China and other jurisdictions with which the city has no extradition deal.

Police will have 1,000 officers on standby to handle any disturbance, while mainland officials have also been assessing the situation.

The rally will end at the West Kowloon station of the high-speed rail link. Photo: EPA

A government source said the station would have to be closed in the worst-case scenario.

While the MTR said it would deploy more manpower to minimise the inconvenience to passengers, transport minister Frank Chan Fan appealed to protesters to remain peaceful.

“I hope these 2,000 protesters will consider passengers nearby when they are expressing their views, and try to minimise the nuisance,” Chan said.

The rally was also expected to have an impact on Tsim Sha Tsui, the crowded tourist and shopping hub of Kowloon.

Passengers using the station should be left in peace, the transport chief says. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chui Ting-pong said some travel agencies and tour groups would avoid the area on Sunday afternoon.

“Protesters want more support, but it is hard for tourists to understand the social problems in Hong Kong,” Chui said. “Tourists should not become the protesters’ target. I hope the crowds will not disturb the tours there.”

There were no gatherings over the extradition bill on Saturday except for two memorials after four deaths that involved suicide notes and other references linked to the crisis over the bill.

Youth group Demosisto raised a black Hong Kong flag at the Cenotaph in Central in memory of those who died.

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