Singing protest flops as cops throng Cityplaza

Hundreds of protesters tried to challenge the anti-gathering ban at the Cityplaza mall in Tai Koo Shing last night but failed to even sing in protest amid a phalanx of riot police.

Crowds in black began gathering on the three-story atrium of Cityplaza at 6pm, with some waving flags with the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time."

But hundreds of riot police arrived 10 minutes later and urged the crowd to break up, citing the anti-gathering ban.

Officers with shields and riot rifles lined up at the center stage of the atrium, as others held up pepper spray cans to disperse protesters from the top floor.

Police later blocked the MTR exit connected to the mall and a man was arrested for flashing his torch on officers. The atrium was cleared at 7.30pm when most protesters left the mall through the ground entrance.

Tai Koo Shing district councillor Andrew Chiu Ka-yin blamed police commander Peter David Whitton for sending conflicting orders to protesters from his frontline officers.

The assembly came after police rejected on health grounds a Confederation of Trade Unions' application to hold a Labour Day rally on Friday. The organizer has proposed to host a "four in a group" rally with each group separated by 1.5 meters to maintain the social distancing rules.

"Police have grounds to believe that the activities do not only increase the risk of infection among participants, but also pose serious threat to the lives and health of all citizens, jeopardizing public safety and affecting the rights of others," police said.

Confederation chairwoman Carol Ng Man-yee said she would appeal against the police decision.

She said police did not explain the reason to ban its suggested arrangement, adding that the force should also respect people's right to protest.

"There is no reason for the police to reject the protest," said the confederation's secretary general, Lee Cheuk-yan.

Last Tuesday the government extended the ban on gatherings of more than four people in public areas until May 7.

Meanwhile, another online group is applying for a letter of no-objection for a rally - demanding the government respond to protesters' five demands, including universal suffrage - on Mother's Day, May 10.

The proposed protest in Kowloon will begin at the Clock Tower on the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade at 2pm and is expected to end on Nathan Road in Mong Kok.

The organizer said the assembly will be a warm-up for the July 1 march.

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China has also applied for three assemblies to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident, including a candlelight vigil in Victoria Park on June 4.

The police have yet to decide whether the commemorative activities can still be held.

justin.tong@singtaonewscorp.com