Student-led Climate Action Hong Kong has applied for a permit for its next march, but may face delays due to the ongoing extradition bill crisis
The next school strike is set to take place on Friday, September 20, but the group is still waiting for permits.
The planned gathering is set to commence at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, if approved by the police.Climate Action Hong Kong, the group behind two student-led marches for stronger action against climate change, is gearing up for a third march.
The next march - and school strike - is set to take place on Friday, September 20. According to the group's Facebook page, it has applied for status as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and is currently awaiting a response in order to obtain certain location permits.
A legal protest, or public gathering at any location run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), must be held by a registered NGO and requires approval from the Hong Kong Police Force.
"The police received our letter on July 2," says Ewan Windebank, one of the student organisers of the march. "If we don't receive approval [before September 20], we will opt for plan B, which is to start at a non-LCSD run location." As it stands, the group wishs to gather at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay before making its way to the Central Government Complex in Tamar Park.
The 16-year-old from Rosaryhill School added that he understands that delays may occur due to the ongoing demonstrations in Hong Kong over recent weeks.
"At the end of the day, we are also a voice that wants to be heard in Hong Kong," he says. "I just hope the government and police have enough manpower to deal with an influx of permit requests."
About 1,000 people took part in the School Strike for Climate Action in Hong Kong on Friday, March 15. Students from across Hong Kong skipped school and walked from Chater Garden in Central to the government headquarters, where they presented a letter of proposal to a building security guard, who agreed to hand it to various LegCo members.
The letter suggested that the government include more young people in the climate change conversation, expand the city's use of renewable energy, and form a department within the Environment Bureau to oversee climate action specifically.
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A second march took place on a Sunday in order to avoid clashes with exams and lessons and attracted more than 200 people.
The student-led march, inspired by 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, is part of the global #FridaysForFuture movement.