A Hong Kong women’s rights group canceled a demonstration at the last minute on Saturday after police said violent groups might want to join the protest. | Reuters
China imposed a national security law on the city amid the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020, leading to most applications by pro-democracy groups for public demonstrations being rejected by the police, largely on social distancing grounds.
Asked whether the police wanted to avoid a protest which might have embarrassed Beijing during China’s annual parliamentary session, the National People’s Congress, Senior Superintendent Dennis Cheng told reporters the organizers decided to cancel the march after weighing up different unspecified factors.The police had previously issued a “no objection” letter with the condition that the organizers ensure the protest would not run contrary to the interests of national security.
“Any persons who continue to assemble in the relevant locations tomorrow would be considered participating in an unauthorized assembly,” the statement said, adding they would be liable to a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. China imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 outlawing acts including subversion with up to life in prison.
The law has been criticized by some Western governments as a tool to crush dissent, but the Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the law has restored stability to the city after protracted pro-democracy protests in 2019.
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