Hundreds of Hong Kongers have marched silently through the city’s streets in protest against the looming national security legislation to be implemented by the mainland Chinese government. Riot police armed with shields were present on Hong Kong streets on Sunday as a crowd of demonstrators marched from Jordan to Mong Kok in the Kowloon district, as part of a “silent protest” march that went largely without the usual chanting or slogan shouting.
The protest was aimed at expressing Hong Kongers’ anger over a national security law — imposed on the special administrative region by Beijing — that would ban subversion, secession, terrorism and foreign interference in the territory. Critics say that the law could be used to crack down on dissent and criticism of Beijing. They say it would also threaten the “one country, two systems” framework following the handover of Hong Kong from the UK to China in 1997.
The event came a day after Hong Kong police refused permission for an annual march that is held on July 1 to mark the passage of the city from British to Chinese rule. Police said a march would violate Hong Kong’s current ban on groups of more than 50 people from gathering, a measure put in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
On Sunday, China’s top legislative body also met in Beijing for the first day of a three-day conference that is expected to expedite the passage of the new security legislation for Hong Kong before it concludes on Tuesday. The National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) reviewed the draft during a special meeting held on Sunday morning, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Source: DW
Finnish site 
Global site