18 August
A pro-democracy group in Hong Kong is preparing to hold another massive rally on Sunday afternoon, despite police refusal to grant permission for a march.
The gathering will be held at a park on Hong Kong Island to protest the territory's government and police for their handling of demands by pro-democracy activists. An extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China sparked the protests that have continued for more than two months, plunging the city into turmoil. The group organized two marches in June and claims that more than one million people took part in each.
But this time, police refused to issue a permit.
A 32-year-old protester said the police's decision violates the freedom of demonstration guaranteed in Hong Kong. He said protests wouldn't have escalated like this if the government had responded to citizens' demand. Clashes are feared if demonstrators carry out the march in defiance of the police, who are staying on the alert around the park. China's paramilitary police, which fall under the military's command, have been massing in the city of Shenzhen, which neighbors Hong Kong.
The Chinese government is apparently trying to warn against further expansion of the protests.—NHK
