| Traum | 02-09-2016 10:58 AM |
Not entirely sure whether Asian_XL is being serious with the timeline here or not, but I'll add in a bit of background and filler info to round the chronology up. I can't guarantee they are all 100% completely factual, but to the best of my knowledge, they should be true.
In the past, even dating back to as recent as the early years of Hong Kong's sovereignty transfer back to China, the streets have a long standing tradition -- or silent understanding between the authorities and regular citizens -- that the authorities will go easy on the public and let a lot of the non-critical violations slide during CNY. The municipal government understood that for the most part, citizens are law abiding and everyone just want to have a pleasant CNY. Food karts / street hawkers are often part of that tradition -- the venders want to turn in a bit of small CNY fortunes, and citizens are happy to enjoy a little delicious local street food as well.
Dating back even further, street food / hawkers are part of the local HK culture. For those in the age range between 30 - 70, I can't imagine how any of them have not eaten any street food from a hawker. Generations of people literally grew up on particular style of food and vending method.
In light of that, I think it is fair to say that the majority of people did not appreciate the Food & Hygiene Dept's harsh crackdown on the street hawkers. No one actively looks for trouble on CNY. Quote:
Originally Posted by asian_XL
(Post 8725193)
Summary of the so-called "riots in Mong Kok"
1. Illegal food trolleys all over MongKok on the first night on CNY
2. Fight between the Food&Hygiene Department inspectors and Hawkers
3. Traffic cop arrived.
3.5 Cops (and not just traffic cops) started dispersing the crowds. At first with only pushing and shoving, with the aim to get people back on the sidewalk. But pepper spray and (collaspable) police batons were soon utilized to ensure compliance.
4. Extremists called Young and Dangerous to back them up
5. They started digging up bricks on the sidewalk and threw at cops
4.5 & 5.5 Pockets of dissent are spread out enough that certain police units are kind of isolated. I know of at least 2 pockets of incidents were the police force was thin enough that they were surrounded and beaten / beaten back. One was the traffic cop unit that eventually fired a "warning shot" into the sky. The other was a specialty team called the "Raptor Unit".
6. Traffic cops got beaten like shit and mad robo cop shot twice up the sky
7. Extremists went over 9000
8. Poor skinny riot police got their ass kicked until dawn, 90 of them and local news reporters got injured.
9. Mr. Chief Executives "You Go To Jail, Bad Boy!"
10. Gung Hei Faat Choi Firework tonight. THE END.
| If you are not familiar with the daily lives and political climate in HK, I can't even begin to explain to you the enormity of the widespread dis-satisfaction that has long been brewing. | 