Police Clear Protesters At Tin Shui Wai Mall

Police repeatedly cleared a Tin Shui Wai shopping mall on Wednesday evening to clear small groups of protesters who had gathered to chant protest slogans and sing anti-government songs.

Several dozen people responded to online calls for the latest of a series of ‘sing-with-you’ protests that have re-emerged in recent days as the Covid-19 situation eases in the territory.

Police had maintained a strong presence outside, and entered the +WOO shopping centre after the protesters started chanting.

Outnumbering the protesters by a wide margin, the officers – some in riot gear – cleared the mall before retreating, only for the protesters to return.

This cycle repeated itself several times, with officers setting up cordons at the centre of the mall and dispersing people, warning them that they were in breach of social gathering restrictions that remain in place.

However, the scene was peaceful and no violence was reported. Some protesters remained despite the police presence and continued singing songs.

The protest came hours after the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office issued a strongly-worded statement warning of a resurgence in violent activities in Hong Kong.

A spokesman likened the protest violence to a "political virus" that needs to be eradicated, of calm would never return to the SAR.