Women's group cancels first march given the go signal since mass protests ended

Police stepped up patrols at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai yesterday morning where a women's association was supposed to stage a rally but called it off at the last minute after the force warned that violent groups might want to join march.

The Hong Kong Women Workers' Association originally received approval from police for the rally in what would be one of the first authorized marches since mass anti-fugitive protests ended in 2020.

But it canceled the event on Saturday night without saying why. The march was set to begin at 11am outside Southorn Stadium, heading west along the pavement and ending at the front of the East Wing of the Central Government Offices.

The association, granted police permission ahead of International Women's Day, was supposed to call for labor rights, women's rights and gender equality.

Asked whether police wanted to avoid a protest which might embarrass Beijing during China's annual National People's Congress session, senior superintendent Dennis Cheng Wai-kin said organizers decided to cancel the march after weighing different unspecified factors.

Cheng added that some "violent groups" wanted to join the protest, but he did not identify them.

He added that police take the appropriate measures to stop illegal behavior for the sake of national security and public safety.

The force had previously issued a letter of no objection on the condition that the organizers ensure the protest would not run contrary to the interests of national security. But after the organizers canceled, police issued a statement saying anyone taking part would be in an unauthorized event.

At least 100 cops were deployed in Wan Chai yesterday where police tactical unit, emergency unit and plainclothes officers stood guard and patrolled around the area including Wan Chai MTR station.

Several police vehicles were parked near Southorn Playground on Hennessy Road, Johnston Road and Luard Road.

Police stopped a man in black with a placard saying: "Femicide is your responsibility, too."

He later told the media that he had always been concerned about gender issues and had taken part in Women's Day demonstrations before.

"It's a pity that the rally was canceled due to some reason or pressures, as it had been approved with a letter of no objection," the man said, adding he still decided to express his view.

He was not arrested.