Hong Kong protest targets ‘singing aunties’ of Tuen Mun

Hong Kong: The Hong Kong riot police fired teargas and sponge rounds to disperse an anti-government protest on Saturday that targeted the so-called “singing aunties” of Tuen Mun. The violent clashes unfolded as a lawful march that drew thousands to an end. At 3 p.m., thousands of people turned up in Tuen Mun to join a themed march to protest the so-called “singing aunties”, or “dama” in Chinese. The female entertainers, many of whom come from mainland China, are deemed a nuisance by local residences who have complained about loud singing and provocative dancing, according to Efe news. Some residents denounced alleged illegal sex work. Michael Mo, convenor of the march, told journalists before the rally: “Residents and the community stand up again today to voice out our dissent on dama. They have been here for over a decade. Despite the local theme of the demonstration, anti-government and anti-China sentiments were palpable throughout the two-hour event, which was initially banned by the police. Marchers held up signs with slogans such as “Tuen Mun’s dama block our way” and “Drive out the Communists, get back our Hong Kong”. At one point, a Chinese national flag was pulled down and set alight, said the report.

Tensions rose when some protesters removed median railings from roads while a small group got onto a train track and hurled stones. Shortly before the riot police fired teargas, it said on its Facebook page that protesters were carrying weapons including “metal rods, catapults and laser guns”. Authorities fired teargas and sponge rounds outside a bus terminal. (IANS)

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