Holiday Shopping Turns Sour For Some Families

Families who were out shopping in Causeway Bay for the mid-autumn holiday were among those who got caught up in cordons that police put up several times in the area, and some even ended up getting arrested.

A woman, surnamed Cheung, said she was allowed to go after being stopped and searched by officers on Paterson Street, but her 38-year-old daughter and her female friend were arrested.

Cheung said the three of them had come out to eat and shop together in the area but were suddenly cornered by the police as they walked down the street.

She said they didn’t do anything illegal, nor were they shouting slogans, adding it was unreasonable for the police to detain and arrest them.

She questioned whether the police were targeting the young by arresting her daughter and her friend while letting herself go.

Another woman who gave her name as Yu said she was among those who were detained on Paterson Street and later released.

But she said her male friend, who was shopping together with her, ended up getting arrested.

She said after she was released, she asked police officers whether her friend could be let go too, but the officer only stared at her.

She questioned why even shopping has become illegal in Hong Kong.

A woman surnamed Mak told RTHK that she was detained by the police for about 45 minutes, and was only allowed to leave after police checked her ID twice.

“It’s very unreasonable, and it is not necessary, because I was just shopping. Shopping in Causeway Bay,” she said.

“I think it’s normal, very normal in Hong Kong. We don’t have any entertainment, especially under the Covid-19, and so I was just shopping on a public holiday,” she added.