Hong Kong protests: small crowds gather across city to voice discontent day after police arrest 50 in parallel traders demonstration

About 200 people gathered at various locations in Hong Kong to voice their discontent on Monday, a day after police arrested nearly 50 people at a march against mainland Chinese shoppers and parallel traders.

Answering online calls, crowds turned up outside the Revenue Tower in Wan Chai, and on streets in Causeway Bay to chant slogans, while some staged a sit-in at the Kowloon Commerce Centre in Kwai Chung.

A group of insurance workers and musicians in Kwun Tong set up a street booth to sign people up for their work unions, the Hong Kong Music Industry Union, and the Hong Kong Insurance Union. Anti-government protesters believe being part of a union to be an effective way of protecting themselves during future strikes.

In Wan Chai, more than 100 people took part in a march, and a financial planner in his 40s, who would only give his name as Tony, said it was his fourth or fifth lunchtime rally.

“We still hang in to the movement, protests have become part of our life,” he said. “You can’t expect tens of thousands of people to show up during lunch time.”