One taken away as police disperse ban-defying crowd

At least one was taken away as police officers dispersed protesters trying to challenge the anti-gathering ban at a shopping mall in Taikoo, planning to sing protest songs at night.

The man was taken away for lighting a torch at police officers.

Crowds in black began gathering on the three-storey atrium of Cityplaza since 6pm, with some waving flags printed with the anti-fugitive slogan of “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time".

But their singing plan did not go ahead at 6.30pm as dispersion took place ten minutes after when hundreds of riot police entered the mall, who cited the anti-gathering ban to urge the crowds to dismiss. 

Some officers armed with shields and riot guns began stationing at the centre stage of the atrium, leaving some others held up the pepper spray to disperse protesters from the top floor towards the ground.

The police later blocked the MTR exit connecting with the mall, as a man was arrested for lighting up his torch against the officers. The atrium was cleared at 7.30pm when most protestors left the mall at the ground entrance.

District councillor for Taikoo Shing Andrew Chiu Ka-yin blamed the police commander Peter David Whitton for sending different orders to protesters as the frontline officers.