HONG KONG, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Anti-government protesters were due to return to the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon with a religious procession, despite a police ban on a march that was set to follow a similar route.
Police were already stationed around transit points in central Hong Kong along the expected route of the procession, due to take protesters from Causeway Bay to Central Hong Kong.
The Civil Human Rights Front, a broad-based democracy coalition, had tried and failed to secure police approval for a protest march this week.
The three-kilometre stretch, which takes protesters past government headquarters, has seen dozens of protests since demonstrations began on June 9 against a legislative bill that would have allowed for residents to be extradited to mainland China.
The protest movement has evolved into a mass demonstration against the government and has brought up deep fears among residents that the former British colony is losing its autonomy to mainland China, promised until 2047.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam formally withdrew the extradition bill last week after earlier suspending it, but protesters say they will continue to demonstrate until all of their demands are met. They include electoral reform and that Lam initiate an independent commission into police violence during demonstrations.
Religious groups have played a critical role in the background of the protests, offering demonstrators food, water, subway tickets and spaces to rest during intense confrontations with police. Pastors and priests have also attended protests as observers.
NNN-AGENCIES
