Hong Kong police fired pepper spray and arrested protesters demonstrating against an influx of visitors from mainland China inside a shopping mall Sunday, reports said. More than 100 people took part in the protest in the town of Tuen Mun in the New Territories, not far from one of the border crossings to the mainland.
Local residents are becoming increasingly angry at the growing number of mainland Chinese traders, who they say have disrupted their daily lives and clogged public transport.
The so-called parallel traders typically travel to Hong Kong by train and stock up on everything from iPads to milk powder, taking advantage of lower prices, wider choice and better quality in the city and dodging hefty tariffs on their return.
Sunday's protest was largely peaceful until a group of activists broke off and headed into shopping malls despite police warnings.
Pepper spray was used against protesters inside one mall. Broadcaster RTHK said about 10 people had been arrested following rowdy demonstrations.