This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
Christmas Eve in Hong Kong was a far cry from the usual festive atmosphere, with protests and clashes erupting in the city's busiest shopping districts.
On Tuesday evening, hundreds of black-clad protesters gathered in Harbour City, a luxury mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the city's most popular shopping areas, chanting slogans and throwing objects at plainclothes police officers who had made arrests inside the mall.
As tensions rose, riot police arrived at the scene, using pepper spray and batons to beat back the crowds. The officers had been discovered and surrounded by protesters, who were heckling and throwing objects at them.
Similar flashmob rallies formed in at least three other locations on Tuesday night, with riot police trying to disperse crowds shouting chants and heckling officers.
According to an AFP reporter on the scene, the plainclothes officers made multiple arrests as the crowds grew increasingly agitated.
Despite the lull in street violence over the past month, online forums used by hardline protesters have called for pop-up demonstrations over the Christmas and New Year period targeting shopping districts.
As Hong Kong marks a distinctly muted Christmas this year, the city's population is seething against Beijing's rule and the semi-autonomous city's local government.
The months of protest have helped tip a financial hub already battered by the trade war into recession and sparked intense political polarisation.
