Fights Break Out In Amoy Plaza Between Rivals

A series of scuffles broke out in Kowloon Bay on Saturday between a pro-Beijing group and anti-government protesters after what started off as a shouting match between the rivals descended into chaos.

Tensions rose inside the Amoy Plaza mall after hundreds of pro-Beijing protesters waving national and Hong Kong SAR flags started a demonstration and sang the national anthem.

Soon, a group of anti-extradition bill supporters also gathered in the area, shouting counter slogans.

The pro-Beijing group shouted "rioters, take off your masks you cockroaches", while the anti-government group chanted "liberate Hong Kong" and "go back to the mainland".

Shortly before 3pm, physical confrontations ensued with punches thrown at some people wearing face masks who hit back with umbrellas. During the chaos, one man was pushed to the ground while another had his shirt torn apart.

A few were seen bleeding from head injuries they suffered in the fighting.

Riot police arrived at the scene and separated the groups, often using batons to hit both the rival groups.

Some of the people then left the mall, but police chased and subdued some individuals who were wearing face masks. Some officers were also seen pacifying the pro-Beijing supporters.

A resident of Amoy Gardens said his son was arrested, claiming that he did nothing wrong.

"[The police] are so barbaric. It didn't matter if the person did anything, they just arrested people because they were young," he said.

The father said his son, who was not wearing black, told him he was going downstairs for food, and the next thing he saw on TV was his son getting subdued and arrested.

Other anti-government protesters, some of them apparently residents from the area, shouted abuse at the police, accusing them of selectively enforcing the law.

"Triads! Triads!" the crowd shouted at the policemen, who soon retreated.

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