Hong Lim Park event to show solidarity with HK demonstrators draws a crowd

A few hundred people turned up for the candlelight vigil held at Hong Lim Park this evening (Oct 1), to show their solidarity with the demonstrators in Hong Kong.The Democracy Now! Singapore in Solidarity with Hong Kong event was organised by social worker Jolovan Wham and human rights activist Rachel Zeng.

Organisers distributed yellow ribbons and candles to participants. Participants also sang along to some Cantonese songs during the hour-long event.

Earlier, the event’s Facebook page showed that some 420 people indicated that they would attend the vigil.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Ms Zeng said they chose to organise the event to express their solidarity towards the protestors in Hong Kong. “What we hope to achieve (is) to give them a morale boost,” she added.

Over the past few days, pro-democracy demonstrators have thronged the streets of Hong Kong, protesting against new election rules that would allow Beijing to screen candidates for the city’s top post.