Yuen Long Back To Normal, But Some Remain Edgy

Life in Yuen Long is gradually returning to normal, two days after a group of armed men unleashed ferocious attacks on commuters at the MTR station, sending 45 people to hospital.

Many of the shops, which were closed on Monday amid fears of more attacks, have since reopened. Vicious attacks by men in white t-shirts wielding rattan sticks were also seen on Sunday night at the Yoho mall, but shoppers have now also returned to the shopping centre.

Shopkeepers however remained edgy and some said they are ready to bring down their shutters at the slightest hint of trouble.

As the attackers chased and attacked people they saw wearing black clothes –favoured by extradition bill protests – some people said they are scared to wear the colour now.

One shopkeeper, named Kong, said she’s afraid to go outside but there’s nothing she can do. She has asked her family not to wear black shirts.

"I asked my boyfriend not to dress in dark [colours], because he likes to wear black shirts, but after the attack, he will wear white clothes instead," she said.

But one Yuen Long resident, who gave her name as Ma, told RTHK that the local community must get prepared for more violence.

During the attack at the MTR station, we saw people were protecting each other and that will continue, she said. "We can pretty much expect police not to come [for help]. I think we should gear ourselves in a way that we can protect ourselves," she said.

But despite the underlying fear, people were still in the mall shopping, eating and taking photos around the displays. Some had come to the mall with children to spend time there. But some also shied away from talking to reporters.