Hong Kong democracy protest march banned

In this June 21, 2019, file photo, pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, center left, speaks as protesters surround the police headquarters in Hong Kong. Demosisto, a pro-democracy group in Hong Kong, posted on its social media accounts that well-known activist Wong had been pushed into a private car around 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 and was taken to police headquarters. It later said another member, Agnes Chow, had also been arrested, at her home. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)

HONG KONG — Hong Kong authorities have denied permission for a major march in what appears to be a harder line on this summer’s protests.

This developed as Hong Kong police arrested well-known activist Joshua Wong and another core member of a pro-democracy group on Friday.

Organizers of Saturday’s march, the fifth anniversary of a decision by China against allowing fully democratic elections for the leader of Hong Kong, said they were calling it off after an appeals board denied permission. It was unclear whether some protesters would still demonstrate on their own.

Police have been rejecting more applications for rallies and marches, citing violence at or after earlier ones. They also are arresting people for protests earlier this summer.

“The first priority of the Civil Human Rights Front is to make sure that all of the participants who participate in our marches will be physically and legally safe. That’s our first priority,” said Bonnie Leung, a leader of the group. “And because of the decision made by the appeal board, we feel very sorry but we have no choice but to cancel the march.” /kga

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