This archive report was first published on 25 August 2019.
Violent clashes erupted in Hong Kong's Tsuen Wan area on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing protests. The confrontations followed a peaceful march by over 10,000 people, but turned violent when protesters began building barriers on city streets using sidewalk railings and bamboo poles.
Police officers in riot gear soon arrived, and by early evening, the air was swirling with tear gas. The Hong Kong police used water cannon trucks for the first time since protests began, firing rounds of tear gas at protesters who threw bricks.
"I don't totally agree with what students do now, such as throwing bricks," said Celine Wong, a 38-year-old nurse who joined the march. "However, what they do is eclipsed by the violence performed by the government now."
Earlier on Sunday, a small rally of around 200 people, who claimed to be relatives of Hong Kong police officers, gathered under pouring rain to criticize the government for its inability to find a solution to the crisis. The rally, organized under the slogan "We Are Not Enemies," called for an independent committee to investigate the cause of the protests and the official response.
Police commanders distanced the force from the event, with Foo Yat-ting, a senior police superintendent, stating that it did not represent the police force or the four police associations. Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, met with a group of people, including former officials and prominent politicians, to hear ideas for building a platform for dialogue.
On Saturday, Lam wrote on Facebook that she knew the grievances of the community were deep and that some people were unhappy with the government's unwillingness to respond to protesters' demands, including a full withdrawal of the extradition bill. The MTR Corporation, Hong Kong's subway operator, closed three stations in the Tsuen Wan area due to the protests, after closing four stations in the Kwun Tong area on Saturday.
Adi Lau, the MTR operations director, said that the decision to close stations was made out of safety considerations, including concerns from employees who felt threatened. The MTR also obtained a court injunction against anyone interfering with train operations, damaging property or causing disturbances.
