Anti-government protests return to Hong Kong on Labour Day as police pepper spray crowd
- Officers deploy pepper spray to disperse people staging a singalong at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin after a day of mostly peaceful Labour Day events
- After denying permission for the traditional workers’ rights march, police visit union booths across the city and enforce social-distancing rules
An expected return to larger protest chaos on the streets did not materialise on Friday, and officers who had fanned out across the city only had to contend with small groups and individuals to enforce a ban against public gatherings.
But it was a stark reminder of the political and social turmoil waiting in the wings, interrupted only by the Covid-19 pandemic, after last year’s mass protests and street violence.
Protesters began to gather at the atrium of New Town Plaza in Sha Tin at around 7pm on Friday, singing Glory to Hong Kong, the anthem of the anti-government movement.
Police initially pushed them away and cordoned off the area, including upper floors overlooking the space, warning they were violating the new law limiting public gatherings to groups of four.