The Hong Kong Pride organisation announced the news on their Facebook page. The police would only allow a Pride event as a public meeting. The organisation chose to follow the police’s demands, according to their Facebook message. “The Hong Kong Pride Parade committee has decided to hold the public meeting at the original end point of the parade (Edinburgh Place) from 2 pm to 6 pm. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to the changes for the scheduled performances and booths.” The organisation reportedly requested a Letter of No Objection in April, the Daily Apple writes.
While the organisation did not comment on the police’s decision, Hong Kong’s first openly gay lawmaker writes on twitter: “The Hong Kong Pride Parade 2019 has been banned by the Hong Kong Police. On this anniversary of Stonewall, what an irony. Gay Pride was and still is a protest.”
In recent months, Hong Kong has faced massive protests and irregularities. The population first protested against a law which would have made it easier for Hong Kong to extradite suspects to mainland China. While that law has been revoked, the protests now focus on the growing influence of China.
The pride event will take place on the 16th of November.
