Hong Kong police demand march organisers answer 32 questions before getting go-ahead, prompting fears freedom of assembly is being undermined

Police issue questions in two batches to Synergy Kowloon, which is applying to hold march against influx of mainland Chinese tourists in Hung Hom

Other activists say move is unusual and could be intended to push up administrative costs for organisers of future protests

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Timothy Lee (left) of Synergy Kowloon and Jack Tung, organisers of a rally planned for July 27, with a list of questions police asked them. Photo: May Tse

Published: 7:11pm, 18 Jul 2019Updated: 2:41pm, 25 Jul 2019

The Hong Kong Police Force has asked a small community group organising a march against mainland Chinese tourists to answer dozens of questions about its planning and security arrangements, sparking fears that freedom of assembly is being undermined.

The force’s inquiry about Synergy Kowloon’s plan came after warning earlier it might ban the rally over concerns about more clashes between protesters and frontline officers in the wake of recent extradition bill protests.

Synergy Kowloon, which had been planning a march in Hung Hom on July 27 against large groups of tourists from mainland China in the area, said it was seeking legal advice on whether to reply as instructed, worrying that doing so would set a precedent for the government to tighten its grip on the freedom of assembly.

Timothy Lee Hin-long, a member of the group which had applied for a letter of no objection for the march, received two letters from police on Tuesday and Wednesday, requesting a written reply to the questions by noon on Thursday.

Mainland Chinese tourists on Bailey Street, Hung Hom. Communities in To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City and Hung Hom have complained of an influx of mainland tourists since the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which connects Hong Kong to the mainland, opened in October, 2018. Photo: Edmond So

“It is very rare for police to ask a march organiser to hand in a written response to such a long list of questions,” Lee said. “I am afraid it might be intended to raise administrative costs for all future organisers.”

There were 12 questions in the first batch, following by another set of 20 questions, which police said needed to be answered for “detailed analysis”.