The World Briefly

March 27, 2023

Orchestrated Dissent

Hong Kong

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Dozens marched in the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to protest a land reclamation plan, the first demonstration in the nearly three years since China imposed a strict national security law in the semi-autonomous city following mass protests, Reuters reported.

The rare protests took place under police supervision, with demonstrators required to wear numbered lanyards and barred from wearing masks. Authorities granted organizers a “no-objection” letter on condition they ensured the demonstrations would not violate national security laws, including seditious displays or speech.

Around 80 people participated, according to organizers.

Sunday’s march targeted a proposed plan by Hong Kong’s government to build six public facilities, including a rubbish processing project, in the eastern district of Tseung Kwan O, the South China Morning Post wrote.

City officials said the project aims to “support the daily needs of the community,” but added that it would review the possibility of reducing the scale of the land reclamation.

While some protesters welcomed the chance to express their frustration, others lamented the restrictions imposed by authorities, including limiting rallies to 100 participants.

Hong Kong’s Basic Law – the city’s mini-constitution – guarantees public assembly.

In 2019, the city was gripped by months of anti-government and anti-Beijing protests over a now-withdrawn extradition bill. In response, mainland China imposed a controversial national security law in 2020 that allowed authorities to stifle freedoms and arrest scores of opposition politicians and advocates.

Western governments have criticized the legislation as a tool of repression. Beijing countered that it has helped restore stability to the financial hub.

This story originally appeared in the March 27, 2023 newsletter, Legion of Doom.