Riot police were deployed Thursday in Hong Kong, as a third straight day of protests aim to disrupt the Asian financial hub over the Christmas holidays.
The "shopping protests," according to Reuters, have targeted malls since Christmas Eve in the Chinese-ruled city. On Tuesday, police fired tear gas into crowds to disperse demonstrations in commercial areas filled with shoppers and tourists.
Tribune News Service reported tear gas being fired on crowds outside the historic Peninsula Hotel. Riot police and tactical units were joined by a water cannon vehicle and two armored cars.
It was the first time this month that police resumed their use of tear gas to disperse protesters, after a period of calm followed last month's pro-democracy landslide win at District Council elections.
Protests began in Hong Kong more than six months ago in response to a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party.
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They have since evolved into a broader pro-democracy movement. Pro-democracy candidates overwhelmingly won District Council elections earlier in December.
Demonstrators are angry at what they perceive as increased meddling by Beijing in the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
China denies interfering, saying it is committed to the “one country, two systems” formula put in place at that time, and blames foreign forces for fomenting unrest.
The government, in a separate statement Thursday, criticized “unprecedented violence” and vandalism committed by some protesters, and said that, despite the months of social unrest, freedoms and human rights remained a top priority.
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