HK police fire tear gas to disperse protesters

Bloomberg

Hong Kong police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of protesters who gathered in the crowded shopping hub of Mong Kok at the site of a 2016 protest that marked a violent turn by the city’s pro-democracy movement.
Police said in a statement a large crowd had formed and “some rioters blocked roads with miscellaneous objects and trash,” and hurled “hard objects” at a police vehicle. Officers used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The clashes follow the cancellation of a rally planned on Sunday to mark the fourth anniversary of the so-called Fishball Revolution, a protest against a crackdown on unlicensed street vendors that left dozens of police officers injured. The demonstration prompted a government campaign to clamp down on the pro-independence group involved with it.
The incident also helped little-known activist Edward Leung, who played a leading role in the protest, become one of the city’s most prominent independence advocates. Leung’s campaign slogan — “Reclaim Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Time!” — was widely adopted by participants in protests that gripped the Asian financial hub for much of last year.

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