Anti-Chinese protesters scuffle with police in Hong Kong mall, 6 arrested

HONG KONG - Dozens of protesters marched through a shopping mall in Sha Tin Sunday, heckling mainland Chinese traders and chanting "Go Back to China", according to local media reports.

Some protesters even scuffled with the police, who fired pepper spray and arrested six people aged between 17 and 36, broadcaster RTHK reported.

Police said they are suspected of assaulting police officers and public mischief, among other offences.

This is the second protest in a week targeting the so-called parallel traders, who go to Hong Kong to buy products for resale across the border.

There were also scuffles at a protest in Tuen Mun last Sunday, which also saw the police using pepper spray.

The Sha Tin march was organised by protest group Frontline Democracy. Protesters, many of whom wore surgical masks, said the traders have disrupted their daily lives, causing a shortage in certain products and clogging up public transport.

These traders usually travel to Hong Kong by train and stock up on everything from electronic gadgets to milk powder.

One of them, who gave her name as Ms Long, was cited as saying by RTHK that the protest was "horrible" and she would visit Hong Kong less often from now on.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.