BBC: Hundreds of Thousands of People Parade to Oppose the National Security Law (Photos)
(Clearwisdom.net) BBC July 1st report: At the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule, a grand "July 1st March" was held in Hong Kong to oppose the legislation of the National Security Law, also called anti-subversion law.
The march was sponsored by more than 40 groups led by "the Civil Human Rights Front." According to the sponsor's estimation, the number of people participating in the march was beyond 500,000, far beyond the original estimation of 100,000.
The Hong Kong police estimated the number of people participating was 350,000. Police official Mr. Deng Houjing from the Public Relation Section admitted that this is the largest march since the "June 4th" parade supporting the democratic movement in 1989.
The march was scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m., as pro-government groups rented six soccer fields to hold celebration to mark the Hong Kong's turnover in Victoria Park, people were crowded in nearby Causeway Bay and Tianhou subway stations. Several other stations had to be temporarily closed down during the march.
People in the march were in high spirits, they called out loud slogans such as "Against Article 23," words showing their dissatisfaction with Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee. When the procession marched to an electronic advertisement board with words, "Hong Kong has hope" in the Wan Chai District, the crowd called out and made gestures to the portrait of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to vent their grievances.
There were also young people and children with their parents in the procession. Most of them had little idea about the "June 4th Incident," but they joined the march after listening to their teachers who explained to them about the consequences of the National Security Law.
BBC photo: Hong Kong "July 1st" Grand March
BBC photo report on July 1st: At the six anniversary of Hong Kong's turnover on July 1st, a grand march against the legislation of the National Security Law, also called the anti-subversion law. It is estimated that at least 350,000 people participated in the march.