More than 22,000 march in teachers’ rally supporting Hong Kong’s young protesters, organisers say
- Rally-goers walk from Chater Garden to Government House in one of three police-approved demonstrations on Saturday; police estimate march peaked at 8,300
- A day earlier, education minister sought to discourage secondary school students from boycotting classes in the new academic year
Thousands of teachers in black took to the streets of Hong Kong on Saturday despite heavy rain in a show of solidarity with young protesters, as the city braces for an 11th weekend of demonstrations sparked by the now-shelved extradition bill.
The Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (PTU), organiser of the event themed “Safeguard the next generation, let our conscience speak”, held a rally at Chater Garden in Central before a march to Government House, the residence of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.
Despite the downpour, the organiser said more than 22,000 people attended, while police estimated the march peaked at 8,300.
Young people and students are our future. We need to come out and safeguard them
PTU president Fung Wai-wah noted many of those arrested and injured during protests were students. “This is the first time teachers are joining a march that engages mostly educators in the past two months,” he said.
“Young people and students are our future. We need to come out and safeguard them.”
The march was among three demonstrations planned on Saturday that have been approved by police.
At 11.15am, the amber rain signal and thunderstorm warning were issued by the Observatory as gloomy skies opened on the city. The march kicked off soon after 11.30am, with the amber rain signal taken down at 12.30pm.
