Large crowd gathers in Hong Kong to protest against noisy middle-aged women ‘dama’ singers from mainland China shattering peace of Tuen Mun Park
- Several dama had to retreat and hide in a public toilet at Tuen Mun Park for more than two hours while police stood between them and the protesters
- Atmosphere was hostile and at one stage police used pepper spray on a group that spilled out onto the road outside V City mall
Nearly 2,000 Hongkongers took to the streets of Tuen Mun on Saturday to protest, not over the extradition bill this time but against middle-aged women from mainland China who have been upsetting residents with their singing and dancing in the neighbourhood park.
One dama, or “big mama”, as the singers are disparagingly known, had to retreat and hide in a public toilet at Tuen Mun Park for more than two hours while police stood between the woman and the protesters.
The atmosphere was hostile and at one stage police used pepper spray on a group that spilled out onto the road outside the V City mall to stop a man they accused of antagonising them as he tried to flee the scene in a taxi.
The city had never seen such a huge turnout against the dama – the growing legion of women, usually middle aged, who gather in mainland parks and squares to dance to often deafeningly loud music.
“The Leisure and Cultural Services Department and police should have handled uncontrolled noise according to the law and regulations. But there has been no law enforcement,” said Michael Mo Kwan-Tai, convenor of a Facebook page named Tuen Mun Park Sanitation Concern Group.
