>> reporter: george, we're just on one side of victoria park where will ripley and this was one of the metro city, where people have been trying to get into the park but because it was so full there they have been at a log jam for a lot of hours now, torrential rainfall, but everyone is standing their ground. but people are now starting to go to different areas of the city and that's really the issue here, the police gave permission for that rally in victoria park itself but there was no permission to march elsewhere, once that filled to capacity, everyone else in the side streets just jammed in not really able to go anywhere. we have heard from police they told people to look after themselves. tell motorists to stay alert. because they have been blocked off to traffic because of the sheer amount of people that are there. the chants that are hearing, for 11 months now, calling for an independent investigation into the police activity over recent weeks. they believe that there has been excessive force on the police behalf over the last couple of weeks at least calling for that independe

the city's largest rallies since close to 2000000 people marched in june demonstrators filled victoria park for only approved by the police but there are fears of confrontations with the security forces and some protests as of now begun an unauthorized march through the city and the thomas joins us live from victoria park in hong kong andrew welcome back to the news a key question clearly this was supposed to be the big one is it. it's certainly a very big pain to how big is the question everybody wants the answer to when we won't find out until later on sunday you see back in june the organization that we're going to have today's rally the human rights from they got $2000000.00 people out on the streets to campaign to protest about these controversial proposals to be to extradite people to china which is where this entire movement began well since june of course we've had increasingly violent protests and this particular organization hasn't had a big rally like this since the 1st of july so we're really looking to see the numbers do the he mainstream people in hong kong still support the p

here in victoria park where it all began about 7 hours ago now there are still thousands of people and that is despite almost to wrench to rain that came down for the 1st hour of this process i really thought when i saw the whole crowd on sunday that that might put people off from coming this friday when that rain began i thought at that point a lot of people would leave they didn't they stayed in this park it was absolutely packed as well all the streets around this area and cool as y. e bay on the western part of hong kong island now the place restricted the rally to this park they said that the cost of this park about a $100.00 maybe 850000 would be enough the organize the said they wanted to march they didn't think this would hold the protesters and they were determined to show that as this protest began they were calling people to get into the park to show that was a good prostate and then show that all the streets around it were full as well and they were and this march that's now going on and has been now for many hours from here in victoria park to admiralty through various of

protestors is still very strong in hong kong you saw almost 2 million people very peacefully in victoria park last weekend and we all hoped that we would see a less passive stance from the hong kong government and more of an olive branch it was the perfect opportunity and when this failed to materialize i think the sentiment here turned very

by police but just the sheer numbers of people meant they weren't couldn't be contained within victoria park itself strad spread onto the streets so essentially this has now become a rally through the streets of hong kong. we've seen mass rallies in hong kong before what special about today. the organizers if this event really wanted to stress that this needed to stay as peaceful as possible some protesters here felt that they had something of a point to prove that is because we've seen weeks of violent clashes between police and demonstrators on the streets we also saw earlier this week those very violent images of protesters at hong kong at coors that was a scene that was wrong on by chinese state media is proof that these protests were violent and getting out of control beijing likening some of the those protesters to terrorists organizers now really want to prove that this as still has very broad public support that this is a peaceful demonstration and people are still willing to come out in spite of the rain in spite of that the tear gas and the rubber bullets that we've seen in pause w

i'm standing in the middle of victoria park. it is the force of the crowd. there are so many people here packed in the park that it is standing room only. it's been pouring rain. people are standing shouting open the roads wanting police to open the route that has been traditionally used had this summer to march from the park to the garden. looks like there's crowd movement as i'm speaking. people starting to move towards the entrance. we'll see if this large crowd currently kind of jammed up inside the park moves on ward. in shin jen just along the boarder with hong kong, the chinese state media just today releasing a new video of their armed military police conducting large scale training exercises. if you look at it, it is quite brutal some of the force china could unleash if they decided to deploy mainland military assets in hong kong. it's that kind of alleged brutality what the protesters call mainland style oh depression that brought so many people out here. they feel the police have used similar tactics and fear china may be preparing for its own verv

the number they say it's 1700000 in victoria park where i am in tim how in the suburbs to the east of here and the coolest way back to the west and they say that doesn't include hundreds of thousands that then marched on to admiralty at the central where many many tens of thousands still and now now we have to be a little hill. yes with this number because this number is given by the organizers so it's likely to be on the high side and the place when they release their number later on monday will no doubt have a lower number overall nevertheless the organizers is saying that despite to rent sure right at the beginning of this rally here victoria park and pretty steady rain all throughout the day on sunday the numbers of come to this rally and unauthorized march exceed those that they saw in june. the headlines families have been burying the bodies of those killed in a suicide bomb attack on a wedding reception in afghanistan at least 63 people are dead 200 others injured and eisel has claimed responsibility gibraltar's deny the u.s. request to seize an iranian oil tanker that's been h

protesters are preparing to march from victoria park to chater garden, without official permisson fromuthorities. the march itself is without official permission, although they do have permission, although they do have permission to be in the park for a gathering by the civil rights front. it was responsible for the millions strong peaceful protest back in june. this is in the causeway bay district, which is really the heart of the shopping area of hong kong. the estimates on the numbers of people who have turned up vary considerably, but the organisers insist they are expecting half a million people in the course of this demonstration of solidarity and support for the campaign to ensure that civil rights in hong kong are not eroded further. remember it began with an attempt by the hong kong authorities to introduce an extradition bill that would allow people to be extradited very easily to china, mainland china, and the concern about mainland china's judicial independence is one of the people in hong kong are very relu cta nt people in hong kong are very reluctant for that measure to

sunday rather is all about the numbers all about the numbers that this group can get turning out to victoria park which is behind me we've come to get some cover and also to find a mobile phone signal these mobile phone signals will cost you and your side many people in that park they weren't able to do so from inside but this group organized those 2 huge martins back in june 1 that got a 1000000 people one that got 2000000 they had another that got hoffman on the 1st of july but this is the 1st one organized by this group since and since the 1st of july of course the process that got increasingly violent so sunday this is seen as a test as to whether that main stream hong kong has will still come out in support of the protesters despite the violence that there's been so i say that the weather is a factor because it will be straight to rain put people off now there was no sign of it as far as i could see as people gathered just about an hour or so ago now there was certainly hundreds of thousands victoria park the police say has a capacity of about a 100000 people and there were many many many mo

the number they say is 1700000 in victoria park where i am in tin how in the suburbs to the east of here and in causeway bates' the west and i say that doesn't include hundreds of thousands that then marched on to admiralty at the central where many many tens of thousands still are now now we have to be a little cautious with this number because this number is given by the organizers so it's likely to be on the high side and the place when they release their number later on monday will no doubt have a lower number overall nevertheless the organizers a saying that despite to wrench right at the beginning of this rally here victoria park and pretty. steady rain all throughout the day on sunday the numbers that have come to this rally and unauthorized march exceed those that they saw in june families started burying the bodies that of those killed in a suicide bomb attack on a wedding reception in the capital of afghanistan 63 people are dead 200 others were injured i saw has claimed responsibility. denied a us request to seize the iranian oil tanker that's been held in the british territor

they are still in victoria park, the business district of hong kong. are planning to march to another part of hong kong. none of these are very great distances we are talking about, this is a very built—up area, but nonetheless the police are determined to prevent a march, because the march but was not given permission, the gathering was given permission. there is another demonstration taking place simultaneously not very far away, and that is a demonstration of supporters of the hong kong government, which you can see here. they are gathered actually outside, not in any of the parks, but they are not that far away, and bisla the police's challenge is to try to keep the two of them apart. we hope to be checking in with our correspondent in hong kong in a short while but this is just to give you a picture of the sense of the scale of the people, the protests, and no suggestion that these are diminishing in size. what everyone involved seems to be most concerned on this weekend is ensuring that they remain good—tempered, and that there are none of the ki

from mission for the gathering in victoria park but did not authorize the march through the city the protest is organized by the same group that was behind june's big rallies in fact organize a young has been calling for an end to violence in the city. it looks like it was like. that. the testing that they had no way to protest except it was rather. actually how at least that spam was. excessive follow up at least that's the. rest. of the sites that. also i was with all that stuff a lot less than text while so they will not ask to have the whole day they will explain how yellow ballots will get. the bullets libya released today a lot about that it would give you a good pollen joining us from hong kong officially monday morning then i'll give you past midnight and doesn't look like anyone is going on. indeed come on actually the protesters here are having a dilemma there's a core group that are saying that they're going to stand strong stay here they're going to face the police if they come here they've got their gas masks and their helmets ready and there are many more protesters aro

them saying that they were achieved their objective of the day which started off at that rally in victoria park where you have substantiated 1700000 a significant number of people showed up and that would mean a huge parts of hong kong's population still support these protesters are the headlines families have begun bearing the bodies of those killed in a suicide bomb attack on a wedding reception in the capital of afghanistan at least 63 people dead 200 others injured and i saw has claimed responsibility gibraltar has denied a u.s. request to seize the iranian oil tanker that's been held in the british territory for 6 weeks now. this is the ship sitting out of gibraltar and iran says it is expected to leave in the next few hours israeli forces have killed 3 palestinians at the gaza border and injured another dozens of palestinians protested in the streets of gaza or after the men were killed israel says they were trying to break through the border fence and with and fired on by helicopter at a tank and with the united kingdom's here due to leave the e.u. on all before toba 31st leaks governmen

weekends straight streams of pro-democracy protesters on the streets hundreds of thousands filled victoria park and his surroundings toby kwok and her husband have taken part in most of the rally so far this time they brought their 2 young children on sunday based on my student to learn up our what is happening in hong kong and what we are fighting for i wanted to experience this in person about it i just why it's right and what if. it is a historical moment and many others also said they came to denounce the police crackdown on protesters and put pressure on a government they feel is ignoring them with each week that passes angry increases and the divided government grows deeper and so from the initial demands of revoking the extradition bill now there are 5 demands that the protesters here say they won't back down from. the. among the demands democratic reform and the withdrawal of criminal charges against gordon $700.00 protesters who have been detained so far but for just to enjoy there is one demand that takes priority i think is the police brutality they have to have an investigation abou

here in victoria park, it's a largely older crowd. the crowd is starting to thin out.arlier there was perhaps 5,000 people here. now, it seems that some people are going home. but what we're hearing from people is they are worried about the stability of this special administrative area that is hong kong, that since 1997 has been part of the system of one country, two systems, worked out with britain back in 1997. they're worried that the economic prosperity that this territory has enjoyed could be damaged by this civil unrest. i was speaking to one gentleman, a few years my senior, who told me that some of his younger relatives are, in fact, part of the pro-democracy demonstrations. and that he's spoken with them and told them he doesn't have a problem with protests, what he's worried about is disorder. and he suggested that those more unruly elements in the pro-democracy movement could benefit by going to mainland china where he said they might get some sort of education. but in general, george, what we're seeing is that older people who, many of them moved from mainl

since nearly 2000000 people marched back in june police did give permission for the gathering at victoria park but didn't authorize the march through the city the protesters organized by the same group behind june's big rallies and organize a bone in their own called for an end to the violence in the city. was. it was it was like. that again that. the testing that happened was the way to protest except it was rather. actually how at least that spam was. excessive politics at least that's the. rest. of the sites that. also i was with all that stuff it was less than just wow so they will not ask to have a peaceful day they will explain how yellow ballot. gets but the bullets will be released today and as a light not protests continued to vehicle pollen sent us this update from hong kong about an hour ago. this is the final stop for the protesters it's a major highway right in front of the government headquarters earlier there were thousands of young people wearing hard hats and gas masks saying that they were ready for a confrontation with the police but the police did not show up there are said

in the meantime, supporters of the city's police are holding their own rally in victoria park. cnn of course live in hong kong where our correspondents are covering all sides of these protests. matt rivers is with the pro democracy group and ben wedeman following the pro police event. matt, let's start with you. again, there is always that difference between sanctioned and unthinks aed protests. and what we're seeing right there on this day, these are sanctioned protests, correct? just so long as people stick to the agreed route. >> reporter: yeah, that's right, as compared to last weekend for example when there were protests that were not sanctioned by the police. what is happening behind me here is lawful assembly. they are now about to start a march that will go on for the next several hours. there are thousands of people here, many of them holding up sig signs and everyone here is unified around this pro democracy message. this kind of assembly, easily thousands of people here, make over 10,000 at this point. and what is happening is it is very peaceful. and this is what we

people to come to this rally by sunday morning they were saying they were expecting a 1000000 victoria park has a capacity somewhere between 10200000 in the place that said that should be plenty the organizers said no it won't be and they've probably been proved right because the park was absolutely food to get past the despite the writing as well only on the roads around that park so certainly well over 100000 people came to this rally a couldn't want to put a number anymore it's a problem on it than that at this stage we'll find out later because this is about measuring the numbers this is a real taste of how much support the protest is the unseen beijing if you like the road home called democracy salida based increasingly acrimonious debates in home phone still have back in june there was a march that had a 1000000 people then another one that had 2000000 people least one organized by the same group the human rights front of hong kong well they say that if i can get hall for a 1000000 people out this. quite the moment there's been since those june rallies and that will be a real show of

hoping that half a 1000000 people would type they say 1700000 people at some point were either in victoria park where the official rally was or was part of the strong in the streets around and that number doesn't even include those who came from subsequently in march to where i am in central hong kong to i think the overall number could have been in excess of 2000000 putting it at a poll with one of the big rallies that they held back in june and that's despite a lot of violence that we have seen but smaller rallies are often smaller rallies since the beginning of july so they would say well they all say that that proves they still have ordinary mainstream hong kong public opinion on their side and i should say that the place but a much lower number on the turnout by say that the victoria park itself about 130000 people in it but i don't include those in the streets around nevertheless it was a huge number and that despite 2 great to try to right the other way it was a success is the way that it ended not with bodies and now it is in hong kong that's the exception rather than the rule the organ

for what i'm not saying that they're saying another area but to victoria park in the busy causeway district despite efforts by police to arrest a sea of umbrellas walking through the streets in what looks like downtown hong kong i guess it's all been organized by the civil human rights front it's been behind some of the biggest demonstrations in broad is the semi autonomous chinese territory over the past 2 months it comes as south thousands of teachers yesterday rallied against poems authorities in a show solidarity you see the both sides of it there with the young people who've been leading calls for the democratic reform along the way it was also sizeable but on the right time side counter protest by people and sorry on the left side has got the right to be very concerned about the continuing rest of the city and the threat it poses to the territories special status either which way the months of pro-democracy demonstrations were originally called of course for a withdrawal a controversial extradition bill but they've since adopted big demands including the ongoing calls for res

2000000 protesters gathered back in chewed police gave permission for sunday's large gathering at victoria park but did not authorize a later march through the city demonstrators say they want to show the government that they are peaceful but determined. now the government is blaming the protesters over the phone as to the boys. and now this protest is a. testimonial to show that your hometown i'm very peaceful we are expressing our views he's not found i mean this is this is what the government wants this is what this is what the pain was and it is actually the last time for them to hit the plotters positively respond to my. well divya gopalan joins us live now from hong kong and after 2 months of increasing tensions and some violence we saw over one and a half 1000000 people gathering for protests today that were peaceful. that's right maryam and then incredible thing is if those numbers are substantiated so once given by the organizers you're looking at a quarter about a quarter of hong kong's population coming out in the streets and they were there to support the protests that have been ong

city's biggest rallies since close to 2000000 people gathered in june demonstrators have kept victoria park near capacity all day in a gathering approved by the police but many also marched without permission through the city and have been no arrests reports of any police clashes life thomas joining us from hong kong so andrew how do we think the numbers are unpacking. the pace that we just heard at the number given by the organizers that what's going on right behind me they're giving out some journalists here and the number they say it's 1700000 for a part where i am in the suburb to the east of here and the causeway bates the west and they say that doesn't include hundreds of thousands. that then marched on to admiralty at the central where many many tens of thousands still are now now we have to be a little cautious with this number because this number is given by the organizers so it's likely to be on the high side and the place when they release that number later on monday will no doubt have a lower number overall nevertheless the organizers a saying that despite to rent sure running a

when i say back in, potentially for the first time coming to victoria park. the direction of the park. we have had the situation where the park has been full once and then people left the park and it's filled up yet again. this is the second shift. i guess you can put it that way. it does give you an idea of the number of people who will turn out here if a protest is going to be peaceful. it was given permission it is a legally approved rally and the authorities said it is ok. they didn't give permission for a march, but by sheer virtue of the numbers of people have had to come out of the park and into the streets around it because it couldn't take that many people. as i say, for many blocks back from the park, several kilometres, though streets have been full and the park has also been full. and it is a vote of confidence, i guess you could say, in the more peaceful way in terms of the pro—democracy movement. the more radical elements, they can turn out a few thousand, maybe 10,000 at best, but this has been a really huge gathering here today in favour of de

when i said back end, potentially for the first time coming to victoria park if you thing around hereart, we had the situation at the park has been so once and then people left the park and it has built up yet again. so, this is the second shift. i guess you could put it that way. it does give you an idea of a number of people who will turn out here if a protest is going to be peaceful. it was given permission that this is legally approved rather late, the authority said it was ok. they did not give permission for a march, but just by virtue of the sheer numbers people have had to pour out of the park and into the streets all around it because it could not take that many people. so, i guess as they say, for several kilometres between here and central those straits have been fell and the park has also been filled. it is a vote of confidence, guess you could say, in the more peaceful way, in terms of the pro—democracy movement. because the mower radical elements can turn out a few thousand, maybe 10,000 at best. but this has been a really huge gathering here today in favour of democracy

these cars are not moving and the reason for that is this is the rally at victoria park. ly full, rammed with people and if we pan down to the side, you can see all the streets surrounding the park are completely full of protesters. they haven't been given permission to march, but that's what is happening due to necessity. there are hundreds of thousands of people here, theyjust cannot fit in there. if we walk down we can get a bit of a better idea of it. it just shows we can get a bit of a better idea of it. itjust shows how many people will turn out in hong kong to a peaceful rally. the message this weekend has been to try and get back toa weekend has been to try and get back to a peaceful message, to win over support of the general public and despite the driving rain, despite the thunder and lightning, in their hundreds and thousands, people have turned out. and it doesn't seem to matter they don't have permission to march in the streets, there is so many here, that there is no way the authorities are going to go and arrest such a significant proportion of the populatio

starting to move toward this is the start of war the protesters are scheduled to be walking to victoria park or at causeway bay and it's leading up to look. like there are going to be thousands of protesters here today sunday's theme peaceful rational and nonviolent there were groups from 2 sides the peaceful rationality camp and the valiant resistance camp which include those wearing masks. or they yellow dog we are here because the hong kong government does not listen to our 5 demands and also because of the police brutality so that's why we're here to walk for freedom and we are not giving up because we have a conscience i will peacefully walk today and i will be with the pro peaceful camp and today we will not be divided in the crowd were also several families with children is ok but when a some go down i will take them to my 2 home protest organizers from the civil human rights front took the stage in the middle of victoria park leading crowd chants who was told i was told i was and calling for support for their cause which i did found repression is already being carried out by the home

to my home protest organizers from the civil human rights front took the stage in the middle of victoria park leading crowd chants who was told i was told i was and calling for support for their cause which i did found repression is already being carried out by the home police force on homosassa here 30 waste ever hope that action on the home government and don't call police force the international community in the age of 3 was home call is being told by the home complete by that heavy rain it didn't stop the protesters who march from a packed park to the streets well into the night protesters marked police with laser pointers after police previously claimed them to be dangerous weapons itself i'll be someplace you cannot go back on sunday night the hong kong government responded to the rallies by voicing their concern for the peaceful yet disruptive protests causing several road closures it's most important to restore social order as soon as possible the government will begin sincere dialogue with the public when everything has calmed down but demonstrators ensured they would continue their

the city's largest rallies and close to 2000000 people marched in june for live pictures there victoria park there's a demonstration that has been approved by police. thousands of people and they bangladeshi capital are homeless after a fire swept through a slob began on friday evening and a poor area of deaths have been reported. it is likely to face shortages of food fuel and medicine if britain leaves the e.u. without a bracks a deal that's according to government dock. events leaked to the times newspaper they also show ports could be jammed for up to 3 months the documents describe the effects is not the worst case scenarios but the most likely outcomes is a prime minister boris johnson says he is prepared to leave the e.u. on october 31st with no deal and while the u.k.'s opposition leader jeremy corbett has been rallying support for his plan to become caretaker prime minister and avoid an exit the head of the labor party wants to hold a no confidence vote in boris johnson and then a snap election so i go has more from bolton. as mr corbin addresses the labor party activists to members

protest as close to 2000000 people marched in june she can see here protesters are gathering in victoria park they do have police approval for that gathering and thousands of people in the bangladeshi capital are homeless after a fire swept through islam that began on friday evening and poor area and deaths have been reported. so early forces have killed 3 palestinians at the gaza border and injured another dozens of palestinians protested in the streets of gaza after the men were killed israel says they were trying to break through the border fence and were fired on by a helicopter and a tank and more now from harry fossett who is and leicester is on the ferry what do we know about what happened. well yes pretty much those bare bones the gaza health ministry confirming that these 3 individuals were killed in this incident israeli army saying that it fired on what it says was a heavily armed group of men with an attack helicopter and a tank this follows a similar incident last weekend last saturday when 4 armed men were shot and killed and then in the beginning of the month on august 31st the

side now i should say that the place for the much lower number on the turnout they say that he victoria park itself about 130000 people but i don't include those in the streets around nevertheless it was a huge number and that despite to break to try to right the other way was a success is the way that it ended not with bodies and now it is in hong kong that's the exception rather than the rule the organizes the civil human rights front of one point side of that proves that it isn't a radical element that is cooling all these democratic reforms in hong kong for the resignation of the chief executive kerry lamb and pull the legal withdrawal of this contradiction controversial extra the. it is mainstream hong kong but still wants that so that's where we're at will see where we go from here if they can keep the numbers on the streets keep the violence down and this debate could continue in a civil way rather than the same to the way we've seen recently well the organizers of sunday's protest so strongly criticized hong kong officials comparing them to tell a tarion regime. those who have watche

this is in the city's victoria park. they have pild that park so much, at one point organizers were asking them to please, you know, trickle out a little bit because there literally was no more room. >> this is where chinese government officials are ramping up the deterrent rhetoric with this massive propaganda video. there's some broading music there, too. watch and listen to a bit of it. ♪ >> they added that music, that was not ours. they were holding training, makeshift riots, tear gas. cnn saw dozenses of paramilitary staging there. let's go to paula hancocks in the middle of the crowd there in hong kong. what are you seeing behind you? >> well, there was supposed to be capacity of 100,000 within victoria park. we're about a ten-minute walk away from there. some of the protesters say it took them three hours to get to this point. shows you how many more people have showed up here. this is the scene across many parks in hong kong. it just shows in its 11th week the passion of these protesters in hong kong have not gone

they started in victoria park they got permission for this but the park was too small to contain them all. so they disregarded the rain the heat and the rules and they started to rule it turned into a march to chill for a cheesehead not sanctioned and numbers that completely dominate the city. later they prepared for tear gas the police seemed absent and there was no violence a victory for open eyes as they really are trying to counter this narrative that sprung up over the last few weeks that some of these protesters are extremely violent that something that wasn't happy with by scenes that we saw at the airports area this week which was brought on by chinese say media is proof that these protesters were violent and not sort of peaceful at the peaceful demonstrations like the ones we've seen today into the night protesters threw their frustration in light on the police headquarters. in afghanistan the so-called islamic state is claiming responsibility for a deadly suicide attack on a wedding. already in the capital kabul the attack left more than 60 people dead and dozens more injure

let's cross to victoria park and see what the situation is with ben wedeman.lo. >> the resolve is present here. we have thousands of people, as ivan mentioned in hot, humid weather, who are gathered in victoria park. this, unlike the march that ivan is at, has been issued a permit by the police. there's a movement by some to move and march, but that has not been offici been approved. the government is not budging as far as the five demands the protests have put out. but they are determined to continue with this protest. and what we've seen over the last two and three days, that passive sit-in at the airport. that's been the focus on the protests this weekend. speaking with protesters, they will bring up the five demands. but fundamentally, they are worried that the arrangement worked in between the u.k. and mainland china in 1997, that this would be a one-country, two-system arrangement, is beginning to fall apart. the extradition bill was the beginning of the erosion of the firewall. they have different legal systems and different political systems. and the w

overflowing victoria park, the site for people power protest, nay spilled into the streets. even with the rain, torrential at times, it's not stopping all of the protesters from rallying. they are angry and committed to making their voices heard by the government. what started out june 9th as a demand for the government to revoke a hated extra diction bill has exploded into calls for greater democratic reform. the resignation of the chief executive and a probe into police brutality. in the past week they have been accused of excessive force firing tear gas into a crowded subway station and a protesters could lose her eye after police shot a bean bag at her face, which they deny. protesters have been accused of chaos too crippling the world's eighth busiest airport with mass sit-ins and detaining two chinese citizens who they thought were spies. sunday's march was a chance to step back from the violence. is it better to use violence or to use peace? >> peace is the best way. >> basically, we should say it is peace. >> i would prefer peace. but this is not doing any good. >> r

streets yes marching peacefully through this central area of hong kong now this protest started in victoria park police granted permission for an assembly but as you can see behind me this is now spread into something of a rally that's the park simply could not contain the sheer numbers of people who took part in today's protest now these people behind me have been braving really to wrench to rain today but let's not forget many of them hit back on the streets today have seen weeks of tear gas rubber bullets clashes on the streets and this this heavy rain certainly isn't going to put them off now those pictures are quite amazing to see of umbrellas but we've seen these mass rallies before in hong kong what makes today different. today has been organized by the same people behind to mass rallies back in june 1 of which organizers say attracted up to 2000000 people what organizers said that they wanted to prevent head of this march is that they could still attract similar numbers and crucially that this protest could remain peaceful what they're really trying to do here is counter a narrative that

i mean, they started out at victoria park, which is a huge place, about the size of six football fieldscause it was initially banned, people didn't have anywhere to go. but because of the pressure of numbers, one in four of the population of the island turned up, it shows that this is a very strong, sustainable protest. the chief executive or the leader of hong kong, carrie lam, has to make a decision. she has to decide whether to withdraw the extradition bill com pletely to withdraw the extradition bill completely and displease china or come up with something new. these protesters are come up with something new. these protesters a re not come up with something new. these protesters are not going away. the biggest protest since onejuly, and it is only getting bigger and bigger. it is interesting because 110w bigger. it is interesting because now there has been this entirely peaceful weekend of demonstrations... and it was very important it was peaceful given what happened last week. in some ways it makes a mockery of the claim that beijing made, it described the demonstrations as being

anti-government protest since close to 2000000 people marched in june registers are amassing in victoria park with police approval these are live pictures here there are fears of a confrontation there with security forces as their plan march through the city has not been authorized sunday's march has been organized by the civil human rights front that's the same group that organize june peaceful 1000000 strong marches andrew thomas joins us live now from hong kong so andrew any idea how all this is play at what the plan is for today. well this is a real test because this the number of people that come to this rally will really give a gauge of how much support the throw democracy if you like side of this increasingly antagonistic battle has become home come about the point behind me is victoria park right in the middle of home calling it has the capacity the place say of well over 100000 people and it's pretty much full we've come to the edge about pot because we can't get a mobile signal we use my bus it will cost you a side the pogs like you some indication how busy it is on the roads around

so what the organizers wanted to do assemble in victoria park, march a little over two miles. , that the police said, you can go to the park but can't dot march. but the park itself only holds about 100,000 people, the police's own estimate. attendance is supposed to be significantly higher than that. we have likely, things will spill over into the streets. that could put protesters arrested for a serious crime. we're talking about five to 10 years in prison. or if possible, the police will say look, they're breaking the rules and use that to justify abusive force. charles: we're seeing the ceo of cathay pacific quit or resigned from his job. beijing putting a lot of pressure on corporations. hong kong itself. feels like we're coming to a boil. we're coming to some sort of a climactic point in this where, the businesses back off. slowly but surely the protesters give up. do you sense that? that we could have some sort of a climactic point here? >> it feels like an explosive situation. i feel like right now, i'm hearing from a lot of protesters we're not going to back down. this

their side now i should say that the place but a much lower number on the turnout by say that the victoria park itself about 130000 people in it but i don't include those in the streets around nevertheless it was a huge number and that despite to great to try to right the other way was a success is the way that it ended not with bodies and now it is in hong kong that's the exception rather than the rule the organizes the civil human rights from a phone call.

their side and i should say that the place but a much lower number on the turnout by say that victoria park itself about 130000 people in it but i don't include those in the streets around nevertheless it was a huge number i'm not despite great to try to write the other way was a success is the way that it ended with bodies and nowadays in hong kong that's the exception rather than the rule the organizes the civil human rights front of oncoming side of that proves that it isn't a radical element that is cooling pull these democratic reforms in home come for the resignation of the chief executive jerry lam and pull the legal withdrawal of this contradiction controversial extradition law in his mind through hong kong but still wants the facts so that's where we're at to see where we go from here but if they can keep the numbers on the streets keep the violence down then this debate could continue in a civil way problem with the same to the way we've seen recently the organizers of sunday's protests have issued a scathing attack on hong kong officials comparing them to a toilet busy area regim

from hong kong's victoria park, the crowd trudged west. among them, 30-year-old des'ree wong here with her husband, mother and sister. it is pouring rain out here. >> yes. >> and there's still a lot of demonstrators. >> yes. because we are determined to let the government hear us. the weather cannot change our mind, cannot change our demands. >> do you think that the government will listen to you this time? >> i hope so, but to be honest, i do not have a lot of hope. >> reporter: hong kong has been locked in a cycle of unrest for more than two months. after two separate million-man protest marches last june, the city's appointed government suspended but refused to completely withdraw a proposed law that would allow the extradition of suspects from this former british colony to mainland china. since then, the violence has only escalated. the authorities denounced protesters calling them rioting criminals while the opposition accuses the police of excess use of force. on saturday, supporters of the government staged their own smaller demonst

. >> reporter: a sea of umbrellas at victoria park as protests continue for the 11th straight weekend, organizers estimating 1.7 million people participating. the campaign has the support. the government doesn't. we urge that he listen to people's voices and implement the demands. >> reporter: including the formal withdrawal of a bill extraditing hong kong citizens to mainland china. the dismissal of kerry lamb and inquire into police use of force. >> the main goals of this weekend's pro democracy rally was to show a united front to beijing and keep things peaceful. susan lee, fox business. >>> people here in the bay area are keeping a close eye on the historic protests in hong kong. we found those with direct ties to hong kong and main land, china are eager to keep up to date on the latest developments. some complained they are having a difficult time to get all the facts. >> the u.s. media is sometimes lopsided. they only take pieces and don't see the whole picture. >> i have friends visiting hong kong recently. i have been hearing a lot of stuff from them, understandsing what is go

so we've moved a fair amount of ground from central down into times square in victoria park but this is this is assuming where they're hoping to move them out from it's a big park area where they could disperse but certainly they're using their escalating their tactics to not to try to move the protesters out from central hong kong does it look to you sara i'm trying to figure out from the pictures i'm looking at this it looks like the demonstration the standing their ground there. and i lost you know i'm told as well as here i mean the protesters have fled or whether they're standing their ground and heading into a head on have clashed with the police now they are flamed i am moving back. now they were that were here right where i'm standing now they're moving back to also dispersed in the street facade me so they dispersing in a number of just different directions but it doesn't mean that especially all together they certainly just regrouping and so on we regrouping and moving to different spots because the water cannons coming in as you can see here. and that's the last the p