Protestors rally in the beleaguered town of Yuen Long in defiance of a police ban to show outrage over attacks last week by triad-linked assailants
Yuen Long, a small northwestern town in the New Territories region of Hong Kong, played host to a sense standoff between thousands of black-clad protesters and riot police earlier today (July 27), after scenes of bloody mob violence linked to underground triad societies unfolded at the district’s metro station a week earlier.
Riot police fired waves of tear gas canisters as they forced protesters to retreat across multiple locations in the town. Demonstrators in turn shouted insults at the officers, while others gathered bamboo sticks and pried bricks from the roadside, acts which they insisted not be photographed by reporters.
By early evening, protesters began making their return home via the nearby metro station, though many remained on the streets in a continuing standoff with law enforcement at the time of publication. Police had earlier issued a rare refusal of permission for the gathering to be held over concerns of violence and clashes.
That didn’t deter activists, who turned up at the town in large numbers despite the march being designated as an “unlawful assembly”. Seething with outrage over attacks carried out on July 21 by assailants with links to triad gangs that targeted protesters and others, the crowds have mobilized to make a stand.
Nile Bowie is a writer and journalist with the Asia Times covering current affairs in Singapore and Malaysia. He can be reached at nilebowie@gmail.com.
Yuen Long, a small northwestern town in the New Territories region of Hong Kong, played host to a sense standoff between thousands of black-clad protesters and riot police earlier today (July 27), after scenes of bloody mob violence linked to underground triad societies unfolded at the district’s metro station a week earlier.
Riot police fired waves of tear gas canisters as they forced protesters to retreat across multiple locations in the town. Demonstrators in turn shouted insults at the officers, while others gathered bamboo sticks and pried bricks from the roadside, acts which they insisted not be photographed by reporters.
By early evening, protesters began making their return home via the nearby metro station, though many remained on the streets in a continuing standoff with law enforcement at the time of publication. Police had earlier issued a rare refusal of permission for the gathering to be held over concerns of violence and clashes.
That didn’t deter activists, who turned up at the town in large numbers despite the march being designated as an “unlawful assembly”. Seething with outrage over attacks carried out on July 21 by assailants with links to triad gangs that targeted protesters and others, the crowds have mobilized to make a stand.
Read the full story at Asia Times.
