Police are expected to mobilise 1,800 officers to closely watch various protests scheduled for the upcoming three days as Hong Kong marks the first anniversary of the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement. If the number of protesters turns out to be particularly large, or should any violence occur, as many as 4,000 police officers could be deployed to maintain order, Oriental Daily reported.
Police on Thursday issued no objection letters to various groups for public assemblies this weekend as well as on Monday September 28, which is both a public holiday to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and the one-year anniversary of the Umbrella Movement.
When contacted by HKFP. a police spokesperson refused to comment.
According to the police website, activities commemorating and condemning the 79-day mass protests are set to take place, some on the same day.
On Monday, pro-democracy political parties and student groups will gather outside the government headquarters in Tamar, Admiralty, with speeches and a moment of silence expected.
Meanwhile, the pro-government Defend Hong Kong Campaign will march in Causeway Bay to condemn the University of Hong Kong for “letting the instigators of Occupy Central get away.”
One of the key individuals often seen as an initiator of the campaign is Benny Tai Yiu-ting, an associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. Occupy Central was a sit-in campaign organised by him in the initial stages, before the movement developed into the mass protests that paralysed key areas of the city for 79 days.
