A protest march was held on 25 August 2019, as part of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. The march took place in the Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing districts, starting at the Kwai Chung Sports Ground and passing through streets such as Kuai Fuk Road and Yeung Uk Road, ending at Tsuen Wan Park. The march was organized by the Tsuen Kwai Tsing March Preparation Group, with Lam Kai-hong as the applicant and Yu Ngai-ming as the coordinator. Due to the conflicts that arose during the march and rally, the Specialised Crowd Management Vehicle (water cannon vehicle) was used for the first time that day, and water was sprayed twice within an hour.
The march and rally eventually ended early, and after the Hong Kong Police (hereinafter referred to as "the police") cleared the area, some protesters moved to Yi Pei Square, where a suspected white-clad gang attack had occurred earlier, and vandalized businesses such as mahjong parlors. They also clashed with several police officers; police later confirmed that a uniformed officer had fired a shot, marking the first instance of live ammunition being used in the crackdown on the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Movement. On the evening of the march, police also arrested a 12-year-old boy from Lingnan Hang Yee Memorial Secondary School who was about to enter Form 1, making him the youngest person arrested during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement at the time.
The march and rally sparked widespread controversy over both the police's use of force and the protesters' vandalism. Several MTR stations and bus lines suspended services in response to the march and rally, and the MTR's decision to close stations also became a point of contention. Some recreational facilities managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department also closed early due to the march and rally.
Date and route
The march was organized by the Tsuen Kwai Tsing March Preparatory Committee, with Lam Kai-hong as the applicant and Yu Ngai-ming as the coordinator. The march took place on 25 August 2019, in the Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing districts of Hong Kong, starting from Kwai Chung Sports Ground, passing through Kuai Fuk Road, Yeung Uk Road, and other roads, and ending at Tsuen Wan Park. The original date for the march was 18 August, but it was postponed by a week because the Civil Human Rights Front later planned to hold a march on the same day (eventually, the "Stop the Police-Triad Collusion, Implement the Five Demands" rally). The original plan for the march was to gather at Kwai Fong (South) Bus Terminal at 2:30 p.m. on 25 August, with the march starting at 3:00 p.m. and concluding at Tsuen Wan Park for a rally. On 23 August, the police issued a letter of objection to the march, citing the bus terminal as an unsuitable gathering place. However, the central plaza of Tsuen Wan Park, where the rally was scheduled to be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., was approved. The applicant appealed and reached an agreement with the police on the march route during an appeal hearing on 24 August, after which the appeal was withdrawn. The march was subsequently approved, with the gathering point changed to Kwai Chung Sports Ground for safety reasons, and the organizers agreed to march along the sidewalks. After the route was revised, the gathering point, start time, and endpoint remained the same, but the route was altered to enter Kwai Fuk Road via Hing Shing Road and proceed to Tsuen Wan Park via Ma Tau Pa Road, bypassing a section of Yeung Uk Road.
Events
Early stages
Before the official gathering time, many citizens had already gathered at Kwai Chung Sports Ground, with some taking shelter from the rain in the stands. At 2:45 p.m., the march began, with many parents bringing their children along. During the march, some participants had already moved onto the roadway near CITIC Telecom Tower in Kwai Chung, occupying part of Kwai Fuk Road. Vehicles occasionally passed by, and the protesters made way. By 3:20 p.m., the front of the march had reached Yeung Uk Road. Due to the large number of participants, multiple traffic lanes on Yeung Uk Road were occupied. By 3:35 p.m., the front of the march reached Tsuen Wan Park. At 4:00 p.m., the organizers announced that the rally would be conducted in a "flowing" manner, allowing participants to leave and then return to the rally after circling around. The organizers also stated that the tail of the march was still waiting to start at the gathering point.
Protesters set up roadblocks
At around 4:00 p.m., some protesters began dismantling roadside railings and barriers from nearby construction sites on Texaco Road to set up roadblocks; later, roadblocks were also set up at the intersection of Yeung Uk Road and Ma Tau Pa Road. Roadblocks also appeared at Texaco Road and Luen Yan Street. At 4:40 p.m., the police announced that the Tsuen Wan Police Station report room was temporarily closed and urged protesters not to block emergency vehicle access to avoid affecting emergency services for the public. At 4:48 p.m., riot police arrived at Yeung Uk Road.
Police used a water cannon vehicle for the first time to clear the area
At around 5:30 p.m., the police fired multiple tear gas rounds near the Yeung Uk Road Complex, close to Nina Tower. At around 5:40 p.m., the police raised an orange flag, warning that they would fire live ammunition. At around 5:50 p.m., a water cannon vehicle arrived at the protest site in Tsuen Wan. At around 6:10 p.m., the march organizers stated that they had received notification from the police that the rally at Tsuen Wan Park needed to be dispersed, and riot police had also sealed off all entrances to Tsuen Wan Park; the organizers then announced the end of the march and rally. At the same time, the water cannon vehicle sprayed water at the roadblocks on Tai Ho Road to try to remove the obstacles, but the attempt was unsuccessful, and the barriers were eventually removed by the Special Tactical Contingent. Afterward, the police cleared the area on Yeung Uk Road and Texaco Road, raising black and orange flags at the Yeung Uk Road Complex and firing multiple tear gas rounds. Protesters retaliated with petrol bombs and laser pointers before retreating to the Tsuen Wan Plaza shopping mall, where they used firefighting equipment to wet the floor and prevent the police from entering the mall. Some protesters left through the back entrance of the mall and headed towards Tsuen Wan Riviera Park. Another group of protesters retreated to the inner streets around Chung On Street, where roadblocks were still in place at the intersection of Sha Tsui Road and Chuen Lung Street.
At around 6:55 p.m., the police used water cannons on Texaco Road to disperse the protesters. At around 6:00 p.m., two men in blue shirts and one man in black had a confrontation with the protesters on Chung On Street, during which one of the men in blue retrieved a metal pole from the trunk of a taxi and began attacking the protesters, injuring several of them. The three men were later arrested, and 27 metal rods were found in the taxi.
Police-civilian confrontations
Following the dispersal of a protest march by police, confrontations broke out at around 8 p.m. between protesters and several police officers in Yi Pei Square (Tsuen Wan), where an earlier suspected attack by "Fujian gang" members had occurred. That evening, individuals dressed in black, carrying iron rods, claimed they were seeking revenge for assaulted "comrades." These individuals arrived at Yi Pei Square, repeatedly striking the iron gates of a mahjong parlor, eventually shattering the parlor's glass windows. They proceeded to Tai Pei Square, where they attacked the iron gate of an arcade center. Several other businesses in Yi Pei Square were also vandalized.
A group of demonstrators then moved to the intersection of Sha Tsui Road and Chung On Street, where they briefly attacked and damaged a police vehicle. A standoff ensued with about six officers in blue and white uniforms carrying round shields. Tensions escalated when demonstrators heard one officer refer to them as "cockroaches" over the radio, prompting demands for an explanation. Meanwhile, another group of demonstrators encircled the police officers, leading to a fierce confrontation. Several demonstrators at the front charged forward, using long bamboo poles and iron rods to attack approximately eight officers. The officers retreated briefly, but a gunshot was suddenly heard, prompting six officers to raise their firearms and point them at the demonstrators and the press corps in front of them. A middle-aged man dressed as a local resident suddenly spread his arms, positioning himself between the officers and demonstrators, and then knelt down, pleading, "Don't shoot!". He was subsequently kicked aside by an officer but stood back up, continuing to shield the crowd. The three officers who had drawn their firearms were then surrounded by a large number of journalists and citizens, eventually retreating into a rear stairwell at the nearby residential building Ming Yat House. The journalists on the scene questioned the officers about their actions, particularly why the man had been kicked and why firearms were pointed at the press.
At around 9 p.m., several dozen individuals wearing helmets and gloves, carrying the flag of the People's Republic of China, gathered in Tsuen Wan. They were later dispersed by riot police. Footage captured around 9:20 p.m. shows a group of individuals carrying iron rods, knives, and the national flag running through the intersection of Chung On Street and Sha Tsui Road, while nearby riot police appeared to ignore them.
Protesters move to other areas
As night fell, some demonstrators relocated to other districts, including Sham Shui Po, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Wong Tai Sin South Mall. In Sham Shui Po, after demonstrators gathered in side streets, police raised blue flags near Apliu Street, near Dragon Centre, warning those present that they were participating in an unlawful assembly. Residents in the area shouted at the officers. At around 9:30 p.m., after demonstrators moved onto Cheung Sha Wan Road, riot police suddenly advanced, subduing a female demonstrator, which sparked outrage among the local community. Residents gathered outside the Sham Shui Po Police Station, demanding an explanation and using laser pointers to target the station, while police responded with searchlights. At 10 p.m., during heavy rain, riot police at the intersection of Yen Chow Street and Cheung Sha Wan Road subdued at least ten demonstrators and repeatedly used shields to push back reporters, ordering them to retreat. Police also stopped buses and private cars on Cheung Sha Wan Road and Yen Chow Street, raising blue flags.
In Tsim Sha Tsui, several dozen demonstrators vandalized traffic lights and used garbage cans and other debris to block roads at the intersection of Austin Road and Nathan Road. The toll plaza of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel also experienced a brief blockade, during which the demonstrators damaged toll booth facilities, allowing vehicles to pass through for free. Elsewhere, some demonstrators arrived at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin, where they were greeted with cheers from the public. Footage of this event received 240,000 views and over 6,000 shares on Facebook.
Consequences
Injuries, arrests and legal proceedings
The Hospital Authority reported that by noon on 26 August, a total of 41 people had been sent to four public hospital emergency departments following various clashes across the city, including 34 men and 7 women, with 15 of them in stable condition. Police reported that 15 officers were injured during operations.
Police arrested 36 individuals aged between 12 and 48, on charges of unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapons, and assaulting police officers. Among those arrested was an assistant to Tsuen Wan District Councillor Roy Tam from the Neo Democrats, who was detained and bloodied by police while filming at Kwai Fong Station. Police also arrested a 12-year-old boy, a prospective Form 1 student at Lingnan Hang Yee Memorial Secondary School, who became the youngest person to be arrested during the anti-extradition bill protests at that time.
Outside the Sham Shui Po Police Station, a 19-year-old male student was arrested and found in possession of protective gear and two laser pointers. The defendant admitted to participating in the demonstrations on Yeung Uk Road in Tsuen Wan. Although the defense argued that the case had caused the defendant to suspend his studies, preventing him from achieving his dream of becoming a paramedic, the District Court judge only considered the defendant's age as a mitigating factor. The judge emphasized the need for a deterrent sentence, given the numerous public order disturbances and violent incidents Hong Kong had experienced from June to October of the previous year, concluding that imprisonment was the only appropriate punishment. The judge rejected the notion that the defendant acted impulsively or was unable to flee the scene. The judge set a six-year sentence as the starting point, reducing it by one-third for the guilty plea, resulting in a four-year prison sentence.