As July 1 is approaching, all walks of life are naturally busy preparing for the celebration of the return.
However, there is a "traditional activity" on July 1, which has disappeared since the previous year, namely the July 1 parade.
Since the "Hong Kong National Security Law" and the outbreak of the epidemic, no legal demonstrations have been held in the past two and a half years. The "Taizhu" Civil Human Rights Front (FDC), which was the leader of the July 1st march, was officially disbanded last year. This year is since 2003. Since then, the first July 1 without the FDC.
It is understood that the major democratic parties also did not plan to hold activities on July 1st.
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After the implementation of the National Security Law, the July 1st parade disappeared. Violent incidents have occurred in the past two years.
Since the march of 500,000 people in 2003, the July 1st march has always been an important platform for the civil society in Hong Kong to express their demands. Among them, the democrats are dominant, and their demands range from politics, labor, youth issues to the rights of sexual minorities. The number of participants It is also regarded as the "cold and summer watch" of the political atmosphere of the year, and the process was mostly peaceful.
The FDC, which organized the July 1st parade, is composed of dozens of civic organizations and political parties. It is mainly responsible for applying for demonstrations and discussing parade arrangements with the police.
On July 1, 2019, it was the last July 1st march that was legally held, but it was during the turmoil of amendments to the bill. On the same day, demonstrators stormed the Legislative Council.
Since the implementation of the National Security Law and the impact of the epidemic, the police have not issued a no-objection notice for large-scale demonstrations.
On July 1, 2020, some citizens gathered in the streets without permission to protest the implementation of the National Security Law. A total of 370 people were arrested that day. On the same day, a case of Tang Yingjie driving a motorcycle into a police officer occurred in Wanchai. Tang was charged with terrorist activities. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison last year for the crime of secession and secession. It was the first conviction and sentence under the National Security Law. On July 1 last year, due to the quiet political atmosphere, there were no large-scale demonstrations throughout the day. He committed suicide after being attacked.
Since last year, core pro-democracy figures in the past have been imprisoned one after another, and civil society has gradually disintegrated. Among them, the FDC announced its dissolution in August last year due to political pressure, and no other group has publicly expressed interest in applying for a July 1 rally.
As this year marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, there is no firm news about whether any leaders of the central government will come to Hong Kong, but the police are ready.
In replying to the media earlier, the police pointed out that appropriate police force will be arranged on July 1 to ensure the smooth and orderly conduct of July 1-related activities, but the police deployment is an operational detail and will not be made public.
The Democratic Party and the ADPL have no plans for activities
The author has learned from a number of pro-democracy figures, among them, Luo Jianxi, chairman of the Democratic Party, said that there is no plan to hold an event on July 1st.
As for whether the party will adjust its positioning after the new government comes into play, Luo Jianxi reiterated that daily work will continue, including people's livelihood work, commenting on current affairs, etc.
Liao Chengli, chairman of the ADPL, also pointed out that there are no July 1-related activities this year. If individual members have their own legal activities, he cannot interfere.
During the polling day of the chief executive election in May this year, the community members held a small three-person march in Wan Chai to protest against the deprivation of citizens' right to vote.
At that time, only the chairperson Chen Poying and two members participated in the parade, and they did not violate the 4-person outdoor gathering restriction order. The police stopped and checked 3 people before the parade started, and many police officers followed along the way. In the end, they marched on the Central Plaza, chanting "Immediately" along the way. Slogans such as "implementing dual universal suffrage" did not lead to conflict.
Chen Baoying replied to the author's inquiry that there is currently no decision on July 1st.
As for Di Zhiyuan, the only member of the Legislative Council advertised as a non-establishment faction, a new thinking, has been invited to participate in the official July 1 event and plans to attend.
The 25th Anniversary of the Return of the People's Republic of China｜The LCSD congratulates the Science Museum and the Space Museum on the 25th Anniversary of the Return of the People's Republic of China with free admission on 7.1.
