2015 Yuen Long protest

Clashes outside Long Ping Station, Yuen Long

2015 Yuen Long protest, called Liberate Yuen Long or Recover Yuen Long (Chinese: 光復元朗) by the protestors, is a social movement that was part of a series of anti-parallel trading protests in the northern districts of Hong Kong that took place on 1 March 2015 in Yuen Long. It is mainly originated by some radical democracy organisation, such as Civic Passion and Hong Kong Indigenous[1] and groups from social media and local residents. The protesters were rallied against the parallel traders who buy goods in Hong Kong, especially in Yuen Long, and sell them in Mainland China for profit.

Cause

The trigger of this protest is the parallel traders from Mainland China who use multiple entry visa policy to import goods, such as milk powder, shampoo, medicine back to China and sell them. The parallel traders were mainly active in North District before. They created shortages and inflation there, causing the residents there to respond with the "Recover Sheung Shui" campaign to protest this situation in 2012.[2] However, even after these "anti-parallel traders" demonstrations, the situation keeps worsening. The parallel traders' sphere of activity expanded to Tuen Mun, Sha Tin and Yuen Long due to the convenience of transportation and led to the "liberate" activities of these districts.[3][4]

Development

Around 200 people gathered at Long Ping Station at 3:30 pm and arrived Sau Fu Street at 4 pm. At 4:15 pm, protesters tried to break the police line and pushed against the pro-parallel trading elements on Sau Fu Street, when the police used pepper spray without warning. Some pro-parallel trading people were using foul language and threw their fists at the protesters. Several people were arrested by the police, including a girl who was bleeding on her face. At 4:30 pm, more than 50 members of Civic Passion regrouped and demanded for the abolition of the multiple entry visa policy. The dispute between the pro- and anti-parallel trading elements continued as the group moved to Tung Lok Street at 5:15 pm. At 6 pm, people gathered on the Yuen Long Main Road and halted the traffic. Some protesters started to set up some obstacles, such as rubbish bins at the centr. From 7 to 8 pm, dozens of anti-parallel trading groups marched from Yuen Long Main Road to Kau Yuk Road and attempted to occupy the area. Many protesters still stayed in the protest zone at 10:30 pm.[5][6]

The police used pepper spray 21 times to control the chaotic situation. Later, the police has arrested 36 men and 2 women, aged from 13 to 74, who involved in common assault, assaulting police and possession of weapons. Also, five police officers were injured and had to receive treatment in hospital.[7]

Effect

The host hopes to add more pressure to the government to face the problem of parallel traders. Recently, the government addressed that it had sent a proposal to the Beijing authority to regulate the "multiple-entry permit" plan, which reveals the protest was effective. Also, after the protest, the conflicts between Hongkongers and mainlanders intensified so parallel traders stopped smuggling and decreased the frequency of travelling to Hong Kong.[8]

Some shops were forced to close because of the chaos. Since too many people gathered together and scuffles broke out.[9][10] Some managers closed their shops to ensure their safety and that more or less badly affected their operation.[11][12] About 30 shops had been forced to close. Also, members of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce could sue over their losses.[13]

Meanwhile, the traffic was blocked by the protesters. Due to the large amount of people and narrow pavement, some protesters were forced to stand at the highway and needed police to direct the traffic.[14] The traffic of Yuen Long Main Road was suspended because protesters occupied the area there.

Response

Government

Hong Kong Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok, said public could express their views legality. Police definitely was not tolerating illegal behaviour, especially those violent and offensive behaviour, police would enforce the law firmly. He also added that the authority would continue to combat related offences.[15] Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So Kam-leung, emphasises that the Individual Visit Scheme is important to Hong Kong. The authority cannot change the policy. He also added that cancelling "multiple-entry permit" scheme these proposals are substantial adjustments, the authority needs to consider carefully. Also, he thinks public should not confuse parallel trader with visitors.[16]

Mainland Chinese media

The Xinhua News Agency had reported the Liberate Yuen Long Protests. It reported that some of the Hong Kong individual radical groups launch Liberte Yuen Long Campaign will bring about the nuisance to merchant in Yuen Long. Also, Hong Kong residence and some community organisation expressed great indignation to those demonstrators, and require that police would enforce the law firmly.[17]

Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee

Before the demonstration, the chairperson of Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee threatened that villagers had been overwhelmed and surrounded protesters when they stepped out Long Ping Station. They could not take any advantages if their behaved violently. Villagers could counterattack tenfold. In addition, five hundred police had been stood by to cope with the protest.[18]

Yuen Long residents

Some of the Yuen Long residents were dissatisfied with the parallel traders. A local opined that parallel traders caused road congestions which brought about traffic problems, and because of the increasing number of pharmacies and gold shops aimed at parallel traders instead of shops aimed at locals, he hoped multiple-entry permits should be revoked.[19]

Some local residents did not agree with this campaign and believed the protesters were "stirring up trouble".[20]

Follow-up action

On 8 March, some Internet users organised the fourth "liberate" action—Visiting Sheung Shui through social networking group. The aim of this operation was similar to the previous demonstration. At 4 pm, protesters responded to the exhortation from organizers and went to Tuen Mun. They demonstrated by shouting slogans loudly in different shopping malls. Some citizens caused chaos and collided with parallel traders near B3X bus stop. At night, about 30 protesters went to Hong Kong Clock Tower continue demonstration. Finally, they were stopped by police and dismissed. The police arrested 7 people in total, aged 13 to 21.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "光復元朗淪宣港獨戰場". The Sun. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Cracking down on Cross-border Parallel Trade "Cracking down on Cross-border Parallel Trade" Check |url= value (help). Ming Pao. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Luo, Qi (9 February 2015). "Tuen Mun parallel protesters pepper sprayed". The Standard. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Luo, Qi (16 February 2015). "Sha Tin protesters pepper sprayed". The Standard. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  5. ↑ LONG REDEMPTION
  6. ↑ Wong,Luk and Cheng, Hilary,Eddie and Kevin (2 March 2015). "Locals battle anti-mainland protesters". The Standard. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "光復元朗淪宣港獨戰". The Standard. 2 March 2015.
  8. ↑ 湯, 惠芸 (2 March 2015). "香港反水貨愈演愈烈 凸顯中港矛盾". 美國之音. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Wong, Hilary (2 March 2015). "Locals battle anti-mainland protesters". The Standard. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "黎棟國：警方不會容忍反水貨遊行影響秩序". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 6 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  11. ↑ Chang and Chan, Sylvia and Kahon (2 March 2015). "33 protesters arrested in Yuen Long scuffles". China Daily. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  12. ↑ 01MAR2015 光復元朗 受影響落閘商戶訪問
  13. ↑ Chan and Tsang, Samuel and Emily (2 March 2015). "Hong Kong protest sees violence, pepper spray and arrests, but triads stay away". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  14. ↑ 01MAR2015 光復元朗部份現場情況
  15. ↑ "「光復元朗」衝突 警噴胡椒拘33人". Hong Kong economic times. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "蘇錦樑強調不能一刀切自由行". Sing Tao Daily. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "內地官媒報道元朗反水貨客示威". now 新聞. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "五百警力應付明「光復元朗」示威 倘遇暴力 梁福元：十倍鄉民反擊". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 28 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "「光復元朗」衝突 警噴胡椒拘33人". 經濟日報. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Hong Kong arrests after protest against mainland tourists". BBC News. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  21. ↑ Lau and Zhao, Stuart and Shirley (9 March 2015). "Another day of clashes in Hong Kong at parallel trader protests". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
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