Contagion-fearing Tuen Mun crowd marches

Hundreds of Tuen Mun residents marched yesterday to protest a plan to set up a clinic to handle coronavirus cases in the district.

Chanting slogans "Shame on the government!" and "Zero consultation, zero respect, zero details!" protesters gathered at Tsing Yin Garden then marched along Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road to what has been designated the Yan Oi General Out-Patient Clinic on the same street.

Some chanted anti-administration slogans such as "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times."

Kwan, a local resident, slammed authorities for not listening to people's views before arriving at the clinic decision. "As citizens we do not have a choice," Kwan said. He added that he was "disappointed but not surprised" by the decision.

He went on to express worries about should there be a further community outbreak of the virus after school resumes as the clinic is seen as too close to the residential area and schools.

Leading the march, which had official approval, Tuen Mun district councillor Alfred Lai Chun-wing said more than 20,000 signatures had been collected to show the strong opposition to the siting of the clinic.

He urged the Hospital Authority to choose another place for the facility.

Protesters arrived at the clinic at about 11.45am and left peacefully, though anti-riot police had lined the route of the march to prevent anyone attempting acts of vandalism.

The Hospital Authority earlier this month announced the plan for 18 clinics to be designated as facilities to treat virus cases with mild symptoms, saying that would ease pressure on public hospitals in case of a large-scale community outbreak.

But the plan has backfired with criticism that officials did not consult residents, sparking protests in various districts.

Later yesterday afternoon, a group of black-clad protesters gathered in Tuen Mun Park to protest at the noise from middle-aged mainland singers, who blast music through loudspeakers.

Tension mounted when riot police stopped and searched participants and others in the park. They later raised a blue warning flag near MTR Tuen Mun station, warning it was an illegal assembly and told people to disperse. But protesters kept walking around in the park, chanting anti-government and anti-police slogans.

At about 4pm pepper spray was used after police raised the blue warning flag again. They later pushed into the park and dispersed the crowd.

angel.kwan@singtaonewscorp.com