Thousands protest in HK:

Several thousands marched in Hong Kong Monday against suppression by Beijing as fears grow that freedoms in the semiautonomous city are seriously under threat.

The pro-democracy protest comes a week after Hong Kong banned a proindependence party on the grounds it was a threat to national security, the first time a political party has been prohibited since the city was handed back to China by Britain in 1997.

The emergence of an independence movement calling for Hong Kong to split from China has incensed Beijing as it emphasises the importance of territorial integrity and has led to a crackdown on political expression.

Leading pro-democracy campaigner Joshua Wong said he feared his party, Demosisto, could be next because it promotes self-determination for Hong Kong.

One high-profile Demosisto candidate

was already barred from a recent byelection.

“We need to protect and defend the freedom of association in Hong Kong,” Wong, 21, told AFP at the rally.

The pro-democracy protest is held every Oct 1, China’s National Day, which marks the communist party’s establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

Hong Kong enjoys rights unseen on the mainland including freedom of speech but there are growing fears those are being eroded.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, appointed by a pro-Beijing committee, said in an official address Monday that Hong Kong must “firmly uphold China’s sovereignty, security and development interests”. (AFP)