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Sum Lok-kei

Kanis Leung

A pro-establishment organisation in Hong Kong said on Friday it planned to form a 10,000-strong volunteer group to protect Chinese flags from desecration by protesters on National Day as police banned a proposed mass anti-government march over fears of violence.
Safeguard Hong Kong, an umbrella organisation of 380 Beijing-loyalist groups, vowed to peacefully deter potential damage on October 1 but stressed that companies and government bodies that flew the national flag on their properties had “first responsibility” for its protection.
The organisation’s convenor, Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, said volunteers would act lawfully and not use force against rival groups.
“We are not looking to create any conflict,” said Wong, a lawyer.




Police, meanwhile, refused to give permission to pro-democracy group Civil Human Rights Front to hold a march from Victoria Park, Causeway Bay to Chater Road in Central on National Day.
The force said that during or after previous protests organised by the front and other organisations, participants, reporters and police were hurt in clashes or other violence.
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It noted the planned protest sites were close to high-risk buildings, including MTR stations and the government headquarters. Because of the unstable atmosphere in society and increasingly violent clashes during or after rallies or marches, police believed some protesters could deviate from the original routes and pose risks to others’ safety, it added.
The front said on Friday night it would appeal against the ban.
Police rejected two previous demonstrations planned by the front. On both occasions, thousands still took to the streets and hard-core protesters clashed with officers.
We are not looking to fight them, we are only looking for a peaceful National Day
Kennedy Wong, Safeguard Hong Kong
Wong said his group’s volunteers would be told to respond to acts of desecrating the national flag by calling police and filming incidents on their phones.
“We are not looking to fight them, we are only looking for a peaceful National Day,” he said, adding that volunteers could use loudspeakers to deter opponents.
Earlier this month, a group of men in blue T-shirts with the slogan “I love police” were seen beating people using national flags and sticks in Fortress Hill.

Wong said volunteers would not be given uniforms, but may distinguish themselves using items such as red caps. He did not make clear where volunteers would be sent, but said it was the government’s duty to protect flags flying on its properties.
To avoid violating public assembly laws, Wong said no more than 50 volunteers would show up at one time.
According to his organisation, there had been nine cases of the national flag being desecrated since anti-government protests erupted in June.
Anger, hurt and love for city: how people feel after months of chaos
Under the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance, a person who desecrates either is liable on conviction to a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,410) and imprisonment for three years.
Council Front lawmaker Claudia Mo Man-ching, convenor of the pro-democracy bloc, urged people from both sides of the political divide to avoid physical clashes next Tuesday.
“It is best not to have conflict over an object,” Mo said.


Meanwhile, a Post review found national flags were flown at various buildings in Sheung Wan, Central and Admiralty. Among them were shopping centre Pacific Place, Cheung Kong Center, the headquarters of tycoon Li Ka-shing’s business group, and office building Cosco Tower in Central.
The property management team at Cosco said it would fly the flag as usual on October 1 if the weather was fine, but would make arrangements accordingly in response to events on the day.
“If there is a danger, we may have no choice and take the flag down to avoid triggering the protesters,” the team said.
If protesters tried to remove the flag, regular procedures would be followed to reinstate it, it added.
A spokesman for Swire Properties, which manages Pacific Place, said it condemned all acts of vandalism and violence. He said the company would remain vigilant, as well as taking additional measures to protect the premises if necessary.
The Post has contacted Cheung Kong for comment.
Additional reporting by Linda Lew


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Kennedy Wong, flanked by Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong vice-chairman Brave Chan Yung (left) and Federation of Trade Unions head Stanley Ng Chau-pei. Photo: May Tse

Riot police fire tear gas at protesters as they hold another rally and march from East Point Road in Causeway Bay to Chater Garden in Central. 15SEP19 SCMP / Felix Wong

News

Hong Kong

Politics


Umbrella group Safeguard Hong Kong vows to peacefully deter potential damage on October 1
Police ban a proposed mass anti-government march on the day over fears of violence



Safeguard Hong Kong vows to peacefully deter potential damage on October 1 but stresses that companies and government bodies that fly the national flag on their properties have ‘first responsibility’ for its protection.


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Hong Kong protests: 10,000-strong volunteer group to be formed to protect Chinese flags on National Day

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Umbrella group Safeguard Hong Kong vows to peacefully deter potential damage on October 1 Police ban a proposed mass anti-government march on the day over fears of violence

Umbrella group Safeguard Hong Kong vows to peacefully deter potential damage on October 1

Police ban a proposed mass anti-government march on the day over fears of violence