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
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.”
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.
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.