Thousands of students turn out for protest rally in Central as Hong Kong gears up for weekend of demonstrations
- Rally organised by group of students from 12 local colleges and universities features recorded messages of support from abroad
- Anti-government march for To Kwa Wan wins 11th-hour reprieve while pro-government rally in Tamar Park goes ahead on Saturday
Thousands of students gathered in central Hong Kong on Friday night, calling for the US and Britain to help the city in its fight for democracy.
The rally in Chater Garden came as Hong Kong braced itself for yet another weekend of demonstrations, calling for the full withdrawal of a now-shelved extradition bill, as well as the appointment of a judge-led independent inquiry into police use of force on protesters since June.
A number of protests have been scheduled. They include a march from Hung Hom to To Kwa Wan and a teachers’ rally, as well as a pro-government rally on Saturday. Those will be followed by the Civil Human Rights Front’s rally in Causeway Bay on Sunday.
Police had initially issued letters of objection to the planned Saturday march from Hung Hom to To Kwa Wan, as well as a separate Sunday march on Hong Kong Island organised by the front, approving only its proposed rally at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.
The teachers’ march and pro-government rally on Saturday were given the green light.
