Liberate Yuen Long

2015 Yuen Long protest, called Liberate Yuen Long or Recover Yuen Long (Chinese: 光復元朗) by the protestors, is a social movement that was part of a series of anti-parallel trading protests in the northern districts of Hong Kong that took place on 1 March 2015 in Yuen Long. It is mainly originated by some radical democracy organisation, such as Civic Passion and Hong Kong Indigenous and groups from social media and local residents. The protesters were rallied against the parallel traders who buy goods in Hong Kong, especially in Yuen Long, and sell them in Mainland China for profit.

The trigger of this protest is the parallel traders from Mainland China who use multiple entry visa policy to import goods, such as milk powder, shampoo, medicine back to China and sell them. The parallel traders were mainly active in North District before. They created shortages and inflation there, causing the residents there to respond with the "Recover Sheung Shui" campaign to protest this situation in 2012. However, even after these "anti-parallel traders" demonstrations, the situation keeps worsening. The parallel traders' sphere of activity expanded to Tuen Mun, Sha Tin and Yuen Long due to the convenience of transportation and led to the "liberate" activities of these districts.

Around 200 people gathered at Long Ping Station at 3:30 pm and arrived Sau Fu Street at 4 pm. At 4:15 pm, protesters tried to break the police line and pushed against the pro-parallel trading elements on Sau Fu Street, when the police used pepper spray without warning. Some pro-parallel trading people were using foul language and threw their fists at the protesters. Several people were arrested by the police, including a girl who was bleeding on her face. At 4:30 pm, more than 50 members of Civic Passion regrouped and demanded for the abolition of the multiple entry visa policy. The dispute between the pro- and anti-parallel trading elements continued as the group moved to Tung Lok Street at 5:15 pm. At 6 pm, people gathered on the Yuen Long Main Road and halted the traffic. Some protesters started to set up some obstacles, such as rubbish bins at the centr. From 7 to 8 pm, dozens of anti-parallel trading groups marched from Yuen Long Main Road to Kau Yuk Road and attempted to occupy the area. Many protesters still stayed in the protest zone at 10:30 pm.

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Wikipedia