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Protesters at International Financial Centre mall in Central on Tuesday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong protests: more than 100 people gather at luxury mall in Central to stage singalong violating social-distancing laws amid coronavirus

  • Protesters gather at the International Financial Centre’s mall to sing the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong
  • At least two people were fined for violating social-distancing rules
More than 100 people gathered at a luxury mall in Central on Tuesday as anti-government protests picked up again after several months, ignoring social-distancing measures amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
They gathered at the International Financial Centre’s mall to sing the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong. They also demanded the release of those arrested during last year’s protests, triggered by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.

The protesters were also marking the first anniversary of a march against the bill organised by the Civil Human Rights Front. The front claimed around 130,000 people had taken part in the march on April 28 last year, though police put the attendance at 22,800.

“I was working from home, but I thought I should come out to show my support for the protests,” said a 45-year-old IT sector worker.

“I cannot bear the situation in Hong Kong now. There is no rule of law and the judges are handing down unfair judgments,” she said.

Hong Kong protest organisers vow to defy police’s Covid-19 warning

Braving the risk of facing a HK$2,000 (US$258) fine for violating social-distancing measures, the protester said she was not worried about contracting the coronavirus as she thought Hongkongers were alert enough.

“Everyone is wearing a mask, we should be fine. Even for the upcoming protests, I think people know how to spread out further apart.”

At least two protesters were fined HK$2,000 for violating social-distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Sam Tsang

Police entered the mall five minutes before the protest was expected to start at 6.30pm. At least two protesters were fined for violating social-distancing rules.

Police at the International Financial Centre mall in Central on Tuesday. Photo: Sam Tsang

On Sunday, about 300 people gathered at Taikoo Shing for a similar singing demonstration, where police gave about 40 verbal warnings to the protesters for violating the social-distancing measures that ban large public gatherings to check the spread of the coronavirus.

“It’s clear that they assembled there for the same purpose, following some online calls to stage singalong in that mall,” police public relations branch’s Chief Superintendent Kwok Ka-chuen said on a radio programme on Tuesday.

“What Hong Kong is dealing with now is a public health threat,” he said.

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