A group of citizens, including the elderly and traders, expressed their discontent with demonstrators due to the halt of commercial activities in the area.

Several tents with food and water were destroyed, as police tried to control the two opposing sides. Several citizens were escorted by officers but were released minutes later. The police ordered the tens of thousands of people present in Mong Kok to reduce their protest zone for their own safety.

Benny Tai, co-organizer of the march and the Occupy Central activist group, issued a call to the crowd to be transferred to Admiralty, to lobby in front of the government offices.

The student leader Joshua Wong announced that they will not proceed with an agreed dialogue with local authorities after the police failed to protect the students.

The police said their actions so far have been conducted in accordance with international law.

Mong Kok is known for being one of the largest shopping centers in Hong Kong, visited by thousands of tourists, where international luxury brands are exhibited.

Students have been protesting in the streets for two weeks, and among their demands is the passing of an electoral reform to allow citizens to vote directly by public officials, without having to go through a screening process by the government of China.

They are also demanding the resignation of C. Y. Leung who is accused of not maintaining a dialogue with students and having allowed a greater discontent in the striking population.