Tensions Flare up in Sheung Shui

Several thousand people protested in Sheung Shui against parallel trading

This afternoon marchers dressed in black gathered in Sheung Shui, the district closest to the border with the mainland to protest against parallel traders who make a profit buying up products in Hong Kong.

Organizers say some 30,000 protesters showed up, the police say 4,000... you can decide how many from the above photograph. Some protesters held signs that read, "Reclaim Sheung Shui".

Mainlanders are snapping up goods from Hong Kong

As predicted the atmosphere was tense as parallel trading is a touchy issue -- mainlanders want to have quality products, and yet they are snapping up items aimed for the Hong Kong market, though some businesses are specifically catering to these traders and customers.

Some businesses, like pharmacies and shops selling beauty products or snacks took precautions and closed earlier in the afternoon, even though they supported the protests.

Rural leaders, Bowie Hau Chi-keung and Brian Kan Ping-chee were in the crowds lending their support. Hau asked his assistants to buy nine or 10 cases of drinks, which turned out to be Pocari Sweat, the Japanese drinks company that pulled its ads from TVB recently.

Kan, also a famous race horse trainer, said he opposed parallel trading as well. When asked if he had urged the government to deal with the issue, he said, "This government is useless!"

However things got tense after the march when the protesters didn't leave right away and the police, perhaps getting nervous, tried to disperse the crowds that outnumbered them. Some report the protesters initiated attacks on police, throwing umbrellas at them, but the retaliation was much worse. The police brandished batons that they swung at people resulting in bloody injuries.

Police attacking unarmed protesters after the march

Even reporters covering the event were attacked by police, who didn't make it easier for them to observe what was happening and instead became part of the story. One AFP reporter was at first reported as being struck on the head, but it turns out later she tripped and fell, but was quickly treated by first-aid volunteers and was even driven to the hospital by volunteers.

Covering these protests has become very dangerous work for reporters, and it's timely that tomorrow morning there will be a silent march in Admiralty to Wan Chai to protest how the police have treated reporters during violent protests.

Why are the police being so heavy handed with protesters? And why are many of the police not even in uniform? There are many wearing regular T-shirts, let alone not even displaying their ID numbers, which they should in their official capacity. Perhaps they are hoping the tense scuffles and wielding batons will scare of protesters from showing up at the next march?

This is hardly the way to diffuse tensions in Hong Kong, only escalating them.