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Smaller Hong Kong Protests Held Saturday

Brian Padden

   HONG KONG - Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrations Saturday were
   smaller and less disruptive than recent massive rallies that shut down
   much of the city.
   The largest event on Saturday was a march that included thousands of
   protesters in the Mong Kok shopping district in Kowloon, across from
   the business and financial centers on Hong Kong Island.
   Some black-clad protesters spray-painted government offices and subway
   stations with anti-Chinese messages. Others set up impromptu
   roadblocks. Some vandalized shuttered shops that protesters say have
   expressed support for Beijing.
   Riot police nearby displayed a black flag to indicate they would fire
   tear gas but took no action during the afternoon long march. Some
   protesters passing by shouted obscenities at the police.
   Most of the protesters were young and masked but the crowd also
   included a few parents with young children and babies. One father
   marching with his young daughter, both in masks, said he was not
   concerned for their safety at the demonstration but is more worried
   about the possible repressive control of Hong Kong by the "Chinese
   government in the future."
   Emergency measures
   Saturday's turnout was less that last week's demonstrations, when tens
   of thousands came out, and much less than the nearly 2 million people
   that participated in anti-government protests in June.
   For over four months, Hong Kong has been in the midst of an
   uncompromising standoff between increasingly defiant pro-democracy
   protesters and equally determined government forces backed by Beijing.

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