Pepper spray and body searches as anti-government protesters defy Hong Kong rally ban by holding ‘election hustings’

Organiser Ventus Lau had application for event at Victoria Park calling for international aid rejected by police

In response some 100 pro-democracy candidates are to meet potential voters in Causeway Bay

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Protesters on Saturday afternoon head to Central Lawn in Victoria Park for what police said would be unauthorised rally. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 3:27pm, 2 Nov 2019Updated: 3:38pm, 2 Nov 2019

Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong returned to Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon to hold “election hustings”, after police rejected an application for a rally at the same site.

Some 100 pro-democracy candidates for this month’s district council elections defied a warning that any large gathering would be illegal, and met potential voters at the protest hotspot in Causeway Bay.

The hustings, alongside three authorised rallies in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, mark the 22nd straight weekend of civil unrest triggered by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.

An hour before the rally started, dozens of riot police were seen standing guard at different spots outside Victoria Park. Some of them conducted body searches on protesters wearing masks.

Riot police are on the streets in Great George Street, Causeway Bay on Saturday. Photo: Felix Wong

At 2.45pm, outside Windsor House, police used pepper spray on a man who was shouting at them when walking towards the park. Officers raised a blue flag, warning people they considered it to be an illegal assembly, and would use force if necessary.