Pepper Spray Fired At Sheung Shui Protesters

Clashes broke out between protesters and the police at the end of a protest in Sheung Shui on Saturday, and officers on several occasions fired pepper spray at the demonstrators.

The clashes started on a footbridge near the "Landmark North" shopping mall shortly after 5 pm. Sources at the scene quoted the police as saying some of their officers were attacked by protesters, and subsequently used batons and pepper spray to disperse the crowds. Many of the demonstrators in turn used umbrellas to defend themselves.

Pro-democracy lawmakers Lam Cheuk-ting, Gary Fan and Alvin Yeung were at the scene and called for calm, but to no avail. Hundreds of protesters heeded to calls to surround the police on the footbridge, leading to even more chaos.

Demonstrators later set up barricades and faced off with officers in other areas of Sheung Shui, including San Wan Road and outside the North District Town Hall. Police raised red warning flags, calling on protesters to leave the scene immediately or face clearance action.

Speaking on a video posted on the police's Twitter page, Senior Superintendent Kong Wing-cheung also appealed to demonstrators to stop taking part in violent protests.

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