Religious March Under Police Watch

Church goers hold palm branches in Wan Chai

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, marking the start of Holy Week which will culminate in Easter celebrations this coming weekend.

At Our Lady of Carmel Church in Hong Kong's Wan Chai district yesterday, attendees each received a palm branch and paraded around with it. The palm branches represent the palm branches the crowd scattered before Jesus Christ as he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem.

The participants typically parade around with the palm branch for several metres, but the Hong Kong Police wouldn't allow them to just practice their religious beliefs.

Depiction of Jesus entering Jerusalem

Instead every participant had to have a palm branch in their hands, not wear a mask, and don a red ribbon around their arm.

One of the marchers said they didn't have to wear ribbons before.

"It's a religious event, I think it doesn't need to be so complicated," the woman said. "We're just marching a one-minute route."

She added those who are used to wearing masks may feel uncomfortable about the no-mask rule, even though police said the rule was in place to ensure participants did not use facial coverings to avoid being identified.

Nevertheless, some marchers did wear a mask anyway, but there were no reports on if the police gave them trouble.

The church had to apply to the police for permission to have the march, and when it was approved, the police told organisers that participants were required to comply with Hong Kong laws, including the national security legislation.

This is a religious march... they are not protesting anything. Can they not practice their religious beliefs freely?

Nine other public events scheduled yesterday also had to comply to the same rules, including an Easter parade organised by the Harbourfront Commission.

Some people just want to celebrate Easter... how bureaucratic does it have to be?