Fresh clashes in New Territories protest against parallel traders

Clashes erupted in the New Territories for the second Sunday in a row yesterday as a shopping mall was overrun by anti-parallel trading protesters.

Police were repeatedly forced to intervene, wrestling protesters to the ground, drawings batons and unleashing pepper spray. But a series of arrests led to demonstrators confronting officers, hurling abuse such as "black police" and other insults.

For a second week, after protests erupted in Tuen Mun last Sunday, the colonial-era flag was waved at the protest. One demonstrator waving the flag was aged just 13.

Police last night said six men were arrested for offences including assaulting police, disorder in a public place, obstructing police and common assault. Three people, including an officer, were injured, police said. They later said more arrests may follow.

Trouble flared after more than 100 young protesters marched from the Sha Tin MTR station through the New Town Plaza, chanting "mainlanders go back to the mainland" and telling mainlanders to "drink their own milk powder".

As demonstrators advanced, shops rolled down their shutters - many with customers still inside - and escalators were stopped.

One local, who gave her name as J.Chan, 29, said she resented mainlanders.