Police ban takes the parade out of Hong Kong’s pride celebrations, amid violent protests in the city
- Annual event for the first time reduced to a static rally, with no march allowed
- Organisers claim the force gave them late notice, rather than the usual month in advance
Hong Kong’s annual pride parade has for the first time been reduced to a static rally, after police on Thursday rejected LGBT groups’ application for a march, amid intensifying civil unrest.
Yeo Wai-wai, director of the Hong Kong Pride Parade’s organising committee, accused police of informing them at the last minute – rather than the usual month in advance – leaving organisers with little time to liaise with guests, many of them distinguished diplomats.
“The police have been clamping down on freedom,” said Yeo, also a member of the Civil Human Rights Front, which organised peaceful protests a few months ago to oppose the now-withdrawn extradition bill in June, drawing crowds which the group estimated at more than a million.
“Sexual minorities are no exception,” she added.
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A parade was scheduled to take place on Saturday, co-organised by the Association of Transgender Rights, Gay Harmony, Les Corner Empowerment Association, Rainbow Hong Kong and Pridelab. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, as well as their supporters, were expected to march from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to Edinburgh Place in Central.
But police on Thursday informed the organisers they would only allow an assembly at Edinburgh Place, citing possible commotion in other areas, amid violent unrest gripping the city, now in its sixth month. It would start at 2pm.
Recent days have brought some of the most violent clashes between radical protesters and police since the anti-government protests began in June, with a university campus being transformed into a fiery battlefield earlier this week.
The police’s decision is the first time the force has banned the parade since its inception in 2008, first attended by 1,000 people. There was no parade in 2010, for lack of resources.
The event has grown since then, attracting 12,000 people last year, including lawmakers and heads of consulates, many waving rainbow flags as they marched.
Yeo said organisers had never encountered a police ban, because the event had a track record of being peaceful and inclusive.
She said they had not known before Thursday whether approval would be given, adding that they had never previously been informed at such late notice, 48 hours before the event, the minimum period set out in the law.
Does that mean the city will no longer have any marches now?
Yeo said they had just informed the more than 10 invited consulates about the latest development.
“There is a chance that they could not make it because of such a late confirmation,” she said.
Previous marches have featured drag performances, with proud marchers wearing make-up and costumes.
On the other hand, people who have not come out to their families sometimes hide their faces behind masks, to keep their participation secret. They will now be affected by a mask ban which the administration put in place by invoking an emergency law in October, to deter anti-government protesters.
Gay activist Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, who attended last year’s march in purple eye shadow, said that highlighted the problem of having a law passed without legislative scrutiny.
Sexual minorities were now caught in a crossfire, said Sham, best known for his role as the Civil Human Rights Front’s convenor.
The city’s only openly gay lawmaker, Raymond Chan Chi-chuen, noted the march had nothing to do with any political events. “Does that mean the city will no longer have any marches now?” he asked.
March-goer James, not his real name, said he was worried police could cancel the event at any time on the day, citing violent protests elsewhere.
The Post has contacted the force for comment.
