New clashes in Hong Kong near site of Sunday’s battles

Bloomberg

Hong Kong police and protesters fought pitched battles in the northern district of Yuen Long where demonstrators converged for a march after stick-wielding mobs attacked train commuters and demonstrators on Sunday.
Riot police fired tear gas and pepper spray as demonstrators hurled projectiles at them and vandalised a vehicle. The protesters, mostly clad in black and some wearing protective helmets, appeared to drive back the initial police advance.
Police warned that a “chaotic scene” may ensue and urged the public to leave the area as soon as possible. They had withheld permission for the marches, citing fears of clashes.
“A large number of protesters have currently gathered in Nam Pin Wai, Yuen Long, holding iron poles, self-made shields and even removing fences from roads,” police said.
“In face of the deteriorating situation, police will soon embark on a dispersal operation.” The statement advised people against travelling to Yuen Long.
The demonstration follows a sit-in at Hong Kong’s international airport, the first of three days of demonstrations against the city’s China-backed government. Organisers said 15,000 people took part in the airport protest, while police put the number at 4,000 at its peak.
The former British colony is entering its eighth straight week of unrest sparked by now-suspended legislation that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. The movement has swelled into a wider anti-government campaign that includes demands for Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s resignation and an inquiry into excessive use of force against protesters.
“The violence in Yuen Long shocked Hong Kong and persuaded many people into supporting and joining the protest movement,” opposition lawmaker Raymond Chan said in Yuen Long. “Many people have said they were neutral, but after last week so many have come out to express their discontent with the government and the police force. Even though it’s a little bit dangerous, you see so many people have come out — the young and the old.”
Swarms of people wearing the black shirts favoured by protesters sat on the ground of Terminal 1’s arrivals hall, holding signs and chanting “Free Hong Kong! Free Hong Kong!” and other slogans as crowds watched. Cathay Pacific Airlines Ltd’s flight attendants’ union encouraged aviation industry staff to participate.
The protest at Asia’s busiest international airport underscores the economic risk of continued unrest, with local retailers bracing for a single-to-double-digit drop sales as demonstrations keep tourists out of shops.
In recent weeks, the protests have spilled over from government districts to malls and railway stations, impacting more ordinary residents. The civil actions have continued despite government apologies and promises not to pass the extradition bill.
“The protest is a way to show that Hong Kong people have had enough of this and hope the government will stop the violence,” said Marco Chan, a 23-year-old legal analyst.