Hong Kong protesters, police lock horns in Yuen Long

HONG KONG, Jul 21, 2020, RTHK. A group of protesters on Tuesday marked the anniversary of the Yuen Long mob attacks, but only after getting into a brief confrontation with riot police officers who have been posted in the areas hours ahead, RTHK reported.

Democratic Party lawmakers Lam Cheuk-ting, Andrew Wan and Wu Chi-wai had planned to hold a press conference there at 4pm, but officers cordoned off the area at least an hour earlier.

The lawmakers arrived with a black banner that said police have colluded with the triad and let the attackers off lightly.

They also displayed 85 photos which they say were of the alleged attackers, and questioned why none of them had been arrested yet.

About 15 minutes later, the lawmakers were brought aside and officers issued summonses against them for violating social-distancing restrictions which bans gatherings of more than four people.

There were angry exchanges between the lawmakers and officers, with Lam accusing them of inaction following the mob attack, and officers telling him: “Just leave, don’t stir things up. Being a lawmaker doesn’t mean you can do anything you want, Lam Cheuk-ting!”

Officers also used loudhailers to ask other people to observe social-distancing measures and disperse, and asked journalists to wear their reflective vests and press ID to make it clear they are there working.

After the dust settled, the lawmakers started talking to reporters almost an hour after the scheduled time.

A man who said he was among those beaten up by the gang of white-clad men outside the station that evening said he felt police have forgotten him, because they never asked him to try and identify the attackers.

“None of those who hit me was arrested, how can people believe they are working hard on the investigation?”

The gang armed with weapons like sticks and metal rods chased after and beat up passengers indiscriminately on 21 July last year. Thirty-seven people have been arrested in connection with the attacks, and seven of them have been charged.