Hong Kongers set to defy police with unauthorized protest

Hong Kong protesters again flooded streets on Sunday, igring a police ban on rally and demanding government meet ir demands for accountability and political rights.

Protest leers carried a black banner at front of procession with a slogan, “Five main demands, t one less.”

Some front-line demonstrators blocked streets t long after march began.

Police h beefed up security measures for unauthorized rally, latest in 5-month-old unrest rocking semi-automous Chinese city.

Water-filled plastic security barriers went up around a rail terminal where protest march will finish. city’s subway operator restricted passenger access to West Kowloon train station.

Supporters of movement gared at rally’s starting point on a waterfront promene. Many wore masks in defiance of a recently introduced ban on face coverings at public garings, and volunteers handed more out to crowd.

Organizers said y wanted to use ir right to protest, as guaranteed by city’s constitution despite risk of arrest.

“We’re using peaceful, rational, nviolent way to voice our demands,” Figo Chan, vice convener of Civil Human Rights Front, told reporters. “We’re t afraid of being arrested. What I’m most scared of is everyone giving up on our principles.”

group has organized some of movement’s biggest protest marches. One of its leers, Jimmy Sham, was attacked on Wednesday by assailants wielding hammers.

Police on Saturday arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of stabbing a teen activist distributing leaflets near a wall plastered with pro-democracy messs. A witness told local brocaster RTHK that assailant shouted afterward that Hong Kong is “a part of China” and or pro-Beijing messs.

movement sprang out of opposition to a government proposal for a China extrition bill and n ballooned into broer demands for full democracy and an inquiry into alleged police brutality.