Hong Kong protesters are planning more demonstrations in the coming weeks to spread their demands further geographically and with different formats.
Online citizens on LIHKG, a Reddit-like online forum, suggested the leaderless demonstrations against the now-suspended extradition bill amendment should spread across the city and include social issues in the agenda as well.
Following the first-ever rally organized in Yau Tsim Mong district in Kowloon on Sunday, which attracted 250,000 people to join, some netizens suggested “Protests in 18 districts” – as Hong Kong has 18 administrative districts.
The first one will be a protest in Sheung Shui in the New Territories on July 13. Citizens want to stage a protest not only against the extradition bill but to also raise concerns about parallel traders’ activities in the district.
Sheung Shui is located near the border with Shenzhen and has been popular among merchants from the mainland who take advantage of multiple-entry visas to bring primarily household goods out of Hong Kong to sell in mainland China.
But they, and Chinese tourists in general, have upset some people in Hong Kong society because competition between mainland Chinese and local Hong Kong residents has escalated, causing tension and later conflicts.
Protesters who rallied back in 2014 complained about crowded public transport, rising prices and the changing face of traditional neighborhoods. Some like Sheung Shui have evolved to cater to Chinese tourists.
Meanwhile, administrators of the Shatin Commons Facebook page and district councillor Billy Chan have announced plans for a rally in Sha Tin, in the New Territories, this Sunday. But the route is yet to be confirmed.
People have also suggested staging a protest in Tseung Kwan O on July 21, according to a note on the Facebook page of Concerned Group For Tseung Kwan O People’s Livelihood and Community Alliance. The proposed march would end at Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), as people have complained about the local broadcaster’s pro-government and pro-police stance in its news reports.
Other netizens suggested boycotting the products of companies who advertise on TVB, hoping that will put pressure to the local broadcaster. Meanwhile, another group plans to “support” TVB with events that would be held in a shopping mall. It has called on people to go to the venue to express their views when the show is on, which led to the company calling off an event on Tuesday.
In terms of political strategy, netizens have suggested that more people should join the pro-government party – not to support them, but simply use up resources as the party offers discounts for some merchandise or organizes trips or dinners at a very low price at their branches in the community.
For example, people were urged to sign up for the annual dinner of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the largest pro-establishment camp in the city. The banquet was originally due to be held on Tuesday evening at the HKEX Connect Hall in Central, but rivals said they would go along to “celebrate” together with the DAB members.
That prompted the pro-Beijing party to announce on its Facebook page on Monday that, due to the unrest in society, and to avoid any clashes and risk, the party had called off the dinner.