Organiser of banned Hong Kong protests attacked by masked men with baseball bats on same day demonstration bids rejected
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Police have banned a rally and march planned for Saturday by the group behind Hong Kong’s biggest demonstrations, in an unprecedented move slammed by the organisers who accused the government of “declaring war on all peaceful protesters”.
And just hours after the Civil Human Rights Front was informed of the decision, its convenor Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit and his assistant were attacked by two masked men with baseball bats.
Citing safety concerns, the force officially rejected the front’s application to hold a rally at Chater Garden in Central at 3pm and an associated march to Beijing’s liaison office in Western district, in a five-page letter.
It was the first time force chiefs had rejected both a rally and a march from the organisation.
The force said “serious injuries” had been suffered by protesters, journalists, officers and bystanders in the aftermath of 22 marches and rallies held since June, seven of them organised by the front.