HongKong

District councilor distributing ribbons to mark protester’s death anniversary warned of violating COVID-19 restrictions


A district councilor passing out white ribbons in Mong Kok to commemorate two years since the death of an anti-extradition protester was issued verbal warnings by police, who said he was violating social distancing restrictions.

Police cordoned off a booth manned by Derek Chu, who serves the Yau Tsim Mong district, on Sai Yeung Choi Street around 9:15 am Tuesday, according to Apple Daily. Officers also recorded the identities of six people present, although Chu said he did not know half of the helpers, who were volunteers.

On Facebook, Chu said it is the fundamental duty for social workers to “help people remember.”

The death of the protester, Marco Leung, marked one of the early turning points of the 2019 movement. The 35-year-old was hanging a banner outside Pacific Place in Admiralty on June 15, a week after an estimated one million took to the streets to protest the extradition bill, when he fell.

Protesters left white flowers and candles outside the mall to commemorate the death of Leung, who they hailed as a martyr of the movement.

“It has already been two years since Marco Leung left us, but we will never forget [him],” Chu wrote on his Facebook page Monday.

Pro-democracy group Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions also distributed white ribbons Sunday night to commemorate Leung’s death.

“There may not be any more authorized marches or gatherings in the future, but Hongkongers do what needs to be done on important days,” the group wrote, encouraging people to wear black on Tuesday.

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