This weekend Hong Kong anti-extradition protesters occupied several densely populated working-class districts, including Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wong Tai Sin, Causeway Bay and Kennedy Town.
Saturday
Shops in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui closed early this Saturday as notices were distributed to malls, shop-keepers, and residents urging everyone to stay indoors as protesters gathered and surrounded the neighbourhood. Amongst the many to close were the infamous Mong Kok Langham Place Shopping Mall and Yau Ma Tei’s Wing On Department Store. Tsim Sha Tsui, popularly known as a shopping heaven, quickly transformed into what the CNN describes as “a tear gas-filled battlefield”. Consequently, local businesses have been affected the most in the heat of current protests.
Dressed in black, protesters are seen wearing face and gas masks, hard helmets, and goggles. They are also seen bearing umbrellas of all colours as a means to cover their identities, a shield to protect them from the police, and the symbol of Hong Kong democracy.
Around 120,000 protesters showed up according to the organiser of the Mong Kok rally. Protests raged across these Kowloon districts until 4 a.m. the next morning. During which eighteen people were injured, amongst which, six were discharged this afternoon.
In Tsim Sha Tsui, four protesters were seen climbing up a flagstaff to remove the Chinese national flag which was thrown into the Victoria Harbour water. It is against the law to burn or desecrate the Chinese or Hong Kong flags. Xinhua, a state news agency, commented upon the action as “an insult to all Chinese people, including Hongkongers, and is an unforgivable crime that needs to be severely punished.” Former chief executive of Hong Kong, Leung Chun-ying exclaimed, “The rioters who threw the flag into the sea – you will be sorry.” Leung also offered to reward anyone HK$1 million (£105,045) for information on those responsible for the illegal act.
Like fire, the chaos raged across to Wong Tai Sin later that day. The neighbourhood, named after the taoist deity, Wong Tai Sin, witnessed ‘unprecedented protest violence‘ as residents of the densely populated area made several complaints concerning the smoke from tear gas canisters. Whilst protesters were equipped with protective gear, residents at home were not: despite shutting all windows, the smoke entered people’s homes through air-conditioning vents.
“Wong Tai Sin does not welcome you, go away!”
In a statement, the government vowed to bring the radical protesters to justice:
The government strongly condemns the radical protesters who disregarded the law and order, blatantly breached the public peace, and even challenged national sovereignty. The police will strictly enforce the law. Violent protesters who breached the law should also be brought to justice. In addition, protesters were suspected to have deliberately damaged the national flag, breaching the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance.
Meanwhile, in Causeway Bay’s Victoria Park, thousands of pro-government individuals and artists took part in a rally titled, A Hopeful Tomorrow. The rally’s slogan, “Give Peace a Chance” denounced recent violence in Hong Kong and support the city’s police force.
Sunday
Hong Kong police were scattered across Tseung Kwan O, Shek Tong Tsui, and Causeway Bay as protesters erratically gathered from one place to another.
Whilst a peaceful rally was held in Kennedy Town’s local park where encouraging words were shared, many protesters took to the streets and walked towards Shek Tong Tsui where the Chinese Liaison Office, Beijing’s headquarters in Hong Kong, is located.
Riot police stood guard outside the Chinese building whilst protesters retreated and diverted towards Causeway Bay. By 8 p.m., a barricade was erected along Hennessy Road as protesters accumulated rubbish bins, construction fences, zip ties and cling film.
The sudden convergence shook those shopping in Causeway Bay, and severely disrupted transportation services as trams and buses bearing passengers had no alternative route. In addition, some protesters blocked the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, cutting off Kowloon and Hong Kong Island from each other, and others returned to Kowloon via the MTR where spontaneous protests continued.
As a result, a lengthier statement was released by the government condemning the illegal acts of violence:
The Government must make it clear that blatant violation of law, wanton destruction of public peace and violent attacks on the Police will harm Hong Kong’s society, economy and our people’s livelihood. Such acts have already gone far beyond the limits of peaceful and rational protests for which the Government and general public will not condone under any circumstances. Otherwise they will push Hong Kong into a very dangerous situation.
As protests continue in multiple hot spots, police are forced to engage in a futile game of cat-and-mouse. Meanwhile, all Hongkongers are preparing for tomorrow’s city wide strike and protest. Many employers have advised their workers to work from home as transportation will be greatly disrupted from delayed flights to congested MTR stations.
Credits to the South China Morning Post, RTHK, Hong Kong Free Press and Reuters for live updates, footage, and photographs.
