Calm Returns To Tai Po As Protesters Retreat

A tense stand-off that lasted almost an hour between protesters and riot police near the Tai Po police station ended without major incidents after most of the protesters moved away from the area.

The group of protesters had marched towards the heavily barricaded police station after hundreds held an impromptu rally though police had rejected application for a anti-extradition bill protest march in the area.

Most of the protesters left after they walked from Tai Po Tau bus terminus to Wan Tau Kok Lane, which was the final destination of the cancelled rally.

But as some protesters dressed in black, with face masks,helmets and goggles headed to the police station, the events seemed to follow what had become a pattern of peaceful rallies ending in violent clashes.

Tensions soared as the group stood lines of armed riot police officers near the junction of Nam Wan Rd and Tai Po Tai Wo Rd, about 40 metres away from the police cordon.

Riot police officers raised a blue flag, warning that the protest is illegal and that protesters should disperse or officers “may use force”.

But after a while some people were seen urging the protesters to leave and they slowly started moving away.

The main march held earlier had been peaceful, with old people and children among the crowd. Some were seen handing out free water and tea to fellow demonstrators. There was no police presence along the route.

About an hour into the march, the crowd split up, with a small group of people heading to the Tai Po Market MTR station, and others going towards the direction of the Tai Po police station.

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