They were trying to make a riot.
Hong Kong police have detained a total of 310 rioters in the past three days. This was reported in the South China Morning Post on Friday.
Youth demonstrators staged protests in shopping centres in the city’s tourist areas. Some of them behaved calmly, while others tried to stage a riot. Police used tear gas, rubber truncheons and pepper spray to disperse radical groups. 105 people were detained on Tuesday night during an unauthorized rally near the main police headquarters in the Van Chai district.
The local chief of staff, Carrie Lam, condemned the protesters’ actions and regretted that “their selfish behaviour had overshadowed the joy of Christmas”.
In early summer, mass protests erupted in Hong Kong against the intention of local authorities to pass an extradition bill allowing for the extradition of offenders to mainland China. Despite the withdrawal of this legislative initiative, youth opposition supporters continued their anti-government demonstrations. They were periodically accompanied by road blockades, violence, arson and vandalism. Since mid-November, however, the situation in the city has become calmer, with rallies declining and more peacefully held.