Thousands join Hong Kong New Year’s Day rally as independence activists complain of harassment
- Hong Kong National Front said its office in Tsuen Wan was broken into on New Year’s Eve
- Dozens of Hong Kong independence advocates show up at march
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong to air their grievances against the government in the traditional New Year’s Day rally, this time with pro-independence activists complaining of harassment and restrictions.
Dozens of activists calling for Hong Kong’s separation from China took part, but broke off from the main march and did not enter the public forecourt at the government’s headquarters in Admiralty where it ended, having been warned off in advance.
Pro-Beijing groups also marched separately in far smaller numbers and were involved in minor confrontations with their rivals in the larger rally.
The Civil Human Rights Front, which organised the annual event, estimated 5,500 people turned out to call for greater democracy and warn against “shrinking freedoms”, while police put the figure at 3,200 at the peak. Both estimates were roughly half of last year’s figures for the same event.
Around 30 independence advocates, most dressed in black and some wearings masks, raised flags and banners with “Hong Kong Independence” slogans during the march which started in Causeway Bay.
