HONG KONG (July 7): Thousands of demonstrators chanting slogans marched through one of Hong Kong’s busiest tourist districts, the latest demonstration in weeks of mass protests triggered by a proposed law that would allow extraditions of criminals to mainland China for the first time.

The marchers walked through the pedestrian-heavy Tsim Sha Tsui area as they headed toward the city’s new high-speed rail station to China. The end point was chosen intentionally to reach out to mainland travelers using the rail link, according to postings and leaflets distributed by organizers. While estimates haven’t been formally announced by the organizers, one at the event said it was over 2,000.

Some protesters waved flags that flew when Hong Kong was a British colony, while others carried yellow umbrellas, the symbol of the city’s pro-democracy Occupy Central protests in 2014.

Police have appealed for participants of the march to express their views "peacefully and rationally," the government said in a statement. The transport department will close some roads temporarily and public transport will be diverted, the statement said. Police officers will be on site to guide motorists.

Barricades placed at the West Kowloon station may make it difficult for marchers to clear the streets at the end, according to 25-year-old Ventus Lau, a representative of the organizer. “If any danger appears, it will be the full responsibility of the police," Lau said.

This weekend’s march follows weeks of demonstrations against the proposed extradition legislation. While Chief Executive Carrie Lam suspended the bill on June 15, protesters have continued pushing for its complete withdrawal, Lam’s resignation and other demands.

Last week, Hong Kong police began arresting suspects on charges related to the July 1 break-in of the Legislative Council, where protesters smashed glass windows and defaced walls, portraits of government officials and the Hong Kong emblem.

The city’s mass-transit operator announced that ticket sales were suspended for cross-border trains arriving or departing in West Kowloon from noon Sunday. Crowd management measures will be in place, it added.