Hong Kong Opposes Article 23, 50,000 People Gather Again on July 9th in Protest (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net)

Legislative Council Building surrounded by a sea of 50,000 people

After 500,000 Hong Kong residents took to the streets on July 1^st, Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hua had to defer the enactment of Article 23 legislation. On July 9, outside the Legislative Council Building in Central, there was once again a large-scale protest with 50,000 Hong Kong residents. They requested the government to stop the deferred second reading of Article 23 legislation bill, and demanded that Tung Chee-Hua step down for pushing ahead with the passage of the National Security Bill.

The Civil Human Rights Front sponsored tonight's peaceful rally entitled, "Oppose Article 23, Return Power to the People." The July 1^st march raised public awareness to a new high. More and more people gathered in Charter Garden at dusk. At around 7:00 p.m., shortly after the rally began, Charter Garden was packed with people, and many people had to move to the outside of the garden. At 8:30 p.m., crowds of people filled Edinburgh Square and spread to the streets towards the Golden Bell. At around 9:00 p.m., the estimated number of people reached 50,000.

People constantly waved fluorescent glow sticks and sang the activity's theme song, "Heart to Heart", to express the Hong Kong people's wish: "Oppose Article 23, Return Power to the People."