Police use pepper spray as protesters at regular lunchtime rallies in Hong Kong say their fight is far from over
- Crowds gather at major junctions, blocking roads in Central and Kowloon
- Police fire pepper spray in tense exchange on Pedder Street
Lunchtime demonstrations across Hong Kong continued on Friday with workers turning up in the major industrial district of Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon occupying multiple junctions, and others gathering in Central and Kowloon Bay.
As with a couple of days ago, the protest drew smaller crowds than they did before election weekend, with just 400 or so rallying in key commercial and residential districts, blocking roads and disrupting traffic.
Just before 2pm, police used pepper spray against the crowd outside the Audemars Piguet luxury watch store on Pedder Street, after protesters heckled officers. One man was arrested in the clash, and officers then cordoned off the street, not allowing anyone on either side to cross.
At 1pm, some 100 protesters occupied the intersection between Cheung Lai Street and Cheung Shun Street in Cheung Sha Wan, many masked as they chanted slogans and raised their palms – a symbol of their five political demands.
Traffic was disrupted as vehicles including taxis and buses were stuck along Cheung Shun Street.
Besides the regular white collar workers taking part many secondary school students in uniform were also spotted at the Cheung Sha Wan protests during their lunch break, and some said they wanted to show they were determined to continue until the five demands are met.