Police Launch Clearance Action In Sheung Shui

Police have launched a clearance operation in Sheung Shui to disperse protesters who had been engaged in clashes following a protest against parallel traders on Saturday afternoon.

Officers arrived on San Wan Road at around 8 pm, shortly after demonstrators surrounded different pharmacies -- which were mostly closed for business -- and fenced off their gates with metal barriers. Protesters also spray-painted words like “anti extradition law” or “against parallel traders” on the shop gates, while vandalising their CCTV cameras.

Many of the demonstrators left the scene soon after, saying they shall meet again at another scheduled protest in Sha Tin on Sunday.

The police, meanwhile, said on its Twitter page that the protesters had engaged in an organised illegal assembly, and some had even attacked officers with metal bars and unknown powder. Senior Superintendent Kong Wing-cheung stressed such actions would not be tolerated, and urged local residents to remain in a safe area.

When police arrived to clear the scene, however, practically all protesters had left the area with only journalists remaining.