Thousands march vs Hong Kong violence

HONG KONG (China Daily) — Tens of thousands of Hong Kong people, together with victims of violent attacks by rioters, took part in a public rally in Hong Kong’s Tamar Park Sunday afternoon to say no to violence.

The peaceful rally was seen as the outburst of the silent majority’s pent-up fury against radicalism and violence of radical protesters who have repeatedly thrown the city into chaos in the past six months.

The participants, waving Chinese national flags and Hong Kong SAR’s flags, chanted the slogan: “Support the police in enforcing the law.”

“I believe Hong Kong has a bright future and it will move on because I am seeing tens of thousands of Hong Kong people coming here today to reject violence,” said the convener of the rally Leo Leung Hoi-fung, expressing his gratitude to all the participants.

Leung was harassed by protesters at the Hong Kong International Airport in August. He spoke out about his frustration on arrival from Beijing when he found the airport was paralyzed by protesters. The protesters forced the airport to shut down for two consecutive days in an attempt to pressure the authorities to meet their political demands.

Leung wished that the rally could send a message to local people and the rest of the world that violence is not welcome in the city. He urged protesters to stop the “black terror” that use violence to silence people who are against violence.

Chan Ho-lap, 37, a construction worker, recounted his experience onstage. He was attacked by radicals at the Tin Shui Wai metro station on 1 September 2019. He was beaten by radicals who overheard him telling the police officers trying to maintain order at the station that he supported them. He recalled that he found it unbearable to listen to those protesters hurling insults at the police officers on guard at the station and their family members.