HONG KONG- Hong Kong democracy protesters aim for massive turnout at rare sanctioned march

Millions of Hong Kongers have hit the streets in protests fuelled by years of growing fears that authoritarian China is stamping out the city's liberties

Hong Kong protesters are hoping to get out huge crowds later Sunday as they try to keep pressure on the city’s pro-Beijing leadership six months into their movement pushing for greater freedoms and police accountability.

The semi-autonomous financial hub has been battered by the often violent demonstrations pushing for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability in the starkest challenge the city has presented to Beijing since its 1997 handover.

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Millions have hit the streets in protests fuelled by years of growing fears that authoritarian China is stamping out the city’s liberties.

The last fortnight has seen a marked drop in street battles and protester vandalism after pro-democracy candidates won a landslide in local council elections, shattering government claims that a “silent majority” opposed the movement.

But activists say anger is building once more after chief executive Carrie Lam and Beijing ruled out any further concessions despite the pro-establishment drubbing.

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The city’s police have taken the unusual step of allowing the Civil Human Rights Front to hold a march through the main island on Sunday — the first time the group has been granted permission since mid-August.

Organisers have billed it as a “last chance” for Lam to meet their demands which include an independent inquiry into the police’s handling of the protests, an amnesty for those arrested, and fully free elections.

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Hong Kong’s protests are largely leaderless and organised online. They were initially sparked by a now abandoned attempt to allow extraditions to the mainland but have since morphed into a popular revolt against Beijing’s rule.

The CHRF, which advocates non-violence, has been the main umbrella group behind record-breaking rallies earlier in the summer that saw huge crowds regularly march in searing heat.

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– Commuter chaos threat –

Authorities have repeatedly banned major rallies in recent months citing the risks of violence from hardcore protesters.

Large crowds have simply ignored the bans, sparking near weekly tear gas and petrol bomb clashes that have upended Hong Kong’s reputation for stability and helped tip the city into recession.

Sunday afternoon’s march will follow a well-worn route on the main island from Victoria Park to the heart of the commercial district.

It comes a day before the city marks the six month anniversary of the protest movement in which some 6,000 people have been arrested and hundreds injured, including police.

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Online forums used to organise the movement’s more radical wing have vowed to target the morning commute on Monday if there is no response from Lam.