Much like a mom yelling at a drunk uncle, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam accused “reckless and selfish rioters” of having “ruined” Christmas after protesters took to the streets over two days, clashing with police.
Christmas Eve clashes in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok saw at least 25 injured, RTHK reports, while more than 100 people were arrested near police headquarters in Wan Chai as protesters also gathered on Hong Kong Island.
Police fired multiple volleys of tear gas, including in front of the luxury Peninsula Hotel, while protesters allegedly threw petrol bombs at a police station and set the entrance to the Mong Kok MTR station on fire, according to UPI.
Chief Executive Lam, meanwhile, condemned the violence in a Facebook post on Christmas Day.
“Many members of the public and tourists coming to Hong Kong were naturally disappointed that their Christmas Eve celebrations have been ruined by a group of reckless and selfish rioters,” she said in the post. “Such illegal acts have not only dampened the festive mood but also adversely affected local businesses. The Government will try its utmost best to uphold law and order, and restore peace in Hong Kong.”
However, the condemnation did little to deter protesters, who were back on Christmas Day holding small flashmob-style protests in malls and elsewhere, with police responding with pepper spray, according to AFP.
Some of those pepper-sprayed, tear gassed, and otherwise harassed were journalists, prompting the Hong Kong Journalists Association to accuse the police of undermining freedom of the press, RTHK reports.
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