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Peter So

Emily Tsang

Ernest Kao

A series of angry stand-offs between police and protesters in Mong Kok during the early hours of yesterday ended an otherwise largely peaceful second week of democracy sit-ins in the bustling Kowloon neighbourhood.
At least three people were arrested. A man who identified himself as a citizen journalist was hit by a police baton and lost consciousness temporarily, while a reporter from the Ming Pao newspaper claimed to have been kicked by police and sustained a bruise to his leg.
Police have yet to comment on the predawn happenings.
Protester James Cheung, who regularly helped to clean the Mong Kok protest site, said: "This place is often messy, but it will not deter me from staying here."
The stand-offs began at about 2am when plain-clothes police officers requested identity cards from demonstrators at an occupied section of Nathan Road, where the group had been reinforcing their protest barricades.
The group asked the officers in return to show their proof of identity. A heated argument ensued. The police began retreating from the scene, escorting one protester to Sai Yeung Choi Street South.
But the protesters followed them to the side street, where another conflict broke out. At least two people were escorted away.
In the melee, 28-year-old James Bang, who claimed to be a citizen journalist, was hit on his knee and arm, while a female protester, 15, accused an officer of molesting her. Both were taken to Kwong Wah Hospital in an ambulance. The girl later decided to drop her allegation although she was adamant that the officer had put his hand on her chest.
READ HER STORY HERE: Teenage Occupy Mong Kok protester drops sexual assault allegations against police

Wong Yin-kong, a regular protester in Mong Kok, said he recognised the girl. "I think she is a volunteer here; I have seen her around helping out," he said.
Protesters kept up their pursuit of police officers and were finally confronted on Argyle Street at 3am. The near hour-long quarrel ended with police escorting more protesters away and holding up the now-familiar yellow banner warning people not to breach police cordons.
The officers retreated further to Mong Kok police station to shouts of insults from protesters, and closed the station's gate as the crowd approached.
Wong said he did not recognise that group of protesters. "It seemed they appeared suddenly and had not been hanging out around here," he said.
Yet more action took place outside the police station when a white Lexus rammed into a taxi at Prince Edward Road West.
Protesters surrounded the Lexus to prevent the driver from fleeing and pounded on its windows. Police eventually smashed the car's windows to arrest him.
A police officer later said the man was suspected to be driving under the influence of drugs.
Including the driver, three men aged 23 to 32 were arrested.
As the day wore on, tempers briefly flared again when Federation of Students representatives arrived in the afternoon to offer help and gather views on how they could sustain the movement. But they were blocked from entering the protest area by "native" Mong Kok protesters accusing them of trying to hijack the leaderless movement.
Many accused the students' group of trying to "plant their flag" and to make decisions on their behalf, including concessions with the government.
Federation secretary general Alex Chow Yong-kang called for greater understanding. "We are all Hongkongers living in the same city, striving for the common goal of democracy, freedom and justice," he said.


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Series of stand-offs followed later by 'native' demonstrators blocking Federation of Students


A series of angry stand-offs between police and protesters in Mong Kok during the early hours ended an otherwise largely peaceful second week of democracy sit-ins in the bustling Kowloon neighbourhood.
