HK's central business district thrown into chaos during protest

HONG KONG – The Central and Western districts of Hong Kong, including the city's central business district, was littered with trash and debris after violent clashes erupted between protesters and police yesterday night.

The past weekend is the third consecutive week the city experienced chaos and violence. In the face of recent violent clashes in Hong Kong, the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office announced that a press conference will be held in the afternoon today.

Calm returned to the area by 6 am on Monday, but rubbish – including bottles, broken umbrellas and protesters' self-made weapons – could still be seen scattered along streets.

Metal barriers dismantled by protesters were discarded and piled onto the streets after police dispersed the crowds. Some traffic lights, road signs and street lamps were also destroyed.

In addition, bricks were pried off from the ground and soil from flower beds were dug up. Graffiti bearing offensive and vulgar language attacking the government were painted on the roads and walls of some buildings in the district.

Most of the rubbish was cleared away by 9 am.

Due to the lack of business and the rally happening in the area, a seafood product store on Wing Lok Street closed its door at around 3 pm on Sunday, several hours earlier than usual.

The store owner, Chan, told China Daily he hopes the city can return to calm again as soon as possible, adding the series of incidents made residents jittery.

Lam, the owner of a stationery store in the area, felt that the processions had a largely negative impact on his business. "I didn't dare to open the door the whole day. There would have been no business even if I opened the store," he said, adding that he hoped that protestors and the government could reach a mutual understanding.

Sheung Wan resident Cheung, who did not dare go outside yesterday, also called for the processions and rallies to stop so that life could return to normal as soon as possible.

During yesterday's clashes, police arrested at least 49 people for offences including unauthorized assembly and possession of offensive weapons. Sixteen people were injured during the incident.

On Monday morning, police severely condemned the illegal acts by a group of radical protestors who vandalized numerous government properties, set fires and attacked police officers with lethal weapons during yesterday's protests.