Civil Human Rights Front vows to keep the peace at Hong Kong pro-democracy march, with police-protester diplomacy

The Civil Human Rights Front got its first police approval for a protest on Hong Kong Island since mid-August

Leader calls on marchers to not argue with police, and leave communication with the force to the group’s about 200 marshals

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An August march in favour of the opposition movement’s five demands. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 7:14pm, 6 Dec 2019Updated: 7:10pm, 10 Dec 2019

Hong Kong’s biggest pro-democracy group has vowed to keep a mass protest on Sunday peaceful by reducing direct contact between marchers and police.

The Civil Human Rights Front, which was behind two peaceful marches in June against the now-withdrawn extradition bill – which it estimated drew more than 1 million and 2 million people, respectively – received its first police approval for a protest on Hong Kong Island since mid-August on Thursday.

The Sunday march came ahead of the UN’s Human Rights Day on Tuesday. Marchers are expected to call for an independent probe into claims of police brutality during the social unrest of the past six months.

The front’s convenor, Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, called on Friday for marchers to not argue with police officers, and leave communication with the force to the group’s about 200 marshals.

Jimmy Sham urged police officers to exercise restraint and maintain communication with his group. Photo: Winson Wong

“If the turnout is too big and Hennessy Road’s westbound lanes ... are not enough for the march to go smoothly, our marshals will coordinate with police to open up more roads,” Sham said.