Protests and scuffles marked yesterday's first district visits by new Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and his team after they were sworn in following the handover anniversary.
Apart from the fracas in Tuen Mun, clashes also broke out between Leung's supporters and detractors in Shau Kei Wan, the first stop on a tour of six districts.
At the Shau Kei Wan venue a 49-year-old man was arrested, and helpers at the venue had to link arms to protect Leung as he was leaving.
In Tseung Kwan O, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Education Secretary Eddie Ng Hak-kim had to get past three groups of protesters to get into the community hall. There, a few pro-democrats, including Sai Kung district councillor Gary Fan Kwok-wai, chanted slogans demanding that Leung step down, prompting a shouting match with two of Leung's supporters.
Yesterday's district visits were a new experience for the political appointees, including Ng and Environment Secretary Wong Kam-sing. Ng had to take questions on education from residents in Tseung Kwan O, which he could not answer. Asked about 15 years of free education and empty schools in the district, he said he would study the issue with colleagues after he started work today.
Roger Lee Fung-nin, 26, was concerned about Ng's earlier comment about national education, in which he had said the courses could help students find better jobs.