A new round of protests by Hong Kong residents have filled the streets of the former British colony in recent weeks and that is not because of free elections, pro-democracy, or Occupy Central at all.

The residents who have taken to the streets were protesting about the large influx of Chinese mainlanders into their city to shop each day for luxury goods and everyday items.

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Last Sunday's protests in various parts of northern Hong Kong have been smaller compared to the pro-democracy demonstrations that took place in the last quarter of 2014.

A little over a hundred locals demonstrated in what they said was their expression of their increasing anger towards China and the large number of Chinese mainlanders who flock to their city to shop.

More than a hundred protesters clashed with the police last Sunday, leaving dozens of demonstrators injured and some police officers wounded.

"We strongly condemn the unlawful behavior of the protesters," the statement issued by the Hong Kong police said.

At least four people, including a woman, were arrested by the police during Sunday's protests for allegedly assaulting a police officer and obstructing the police.

For the businessmen and some Hong Kong residents, the Chinese visitors translate to  more money and profit but for the many others, the arrival of the Chinese shoppers means things are more expensive and that the flood of the the visitors "has simply become too much".

Many of the protesters said their areas have been bearing the brunt of the influx of Chinese shoppers since the former's locations are just a bus or a train ride ride away from the mainland.

"People here are angry because there are so many visitors," said Jeffrey, a store assistant in a Sheung Shui electronics shop. "It means things are more expensive - everything, it's too much."

Areas in the northern part of Hong Kong like Yuen Long, Sha Tin, and Tuen Mun have become the shopping meccas of the Chinese mainlanders because of their close proximity and relatively cheap products.

These areas have likewise become the protesting sites of the Hong Kong locals in recent weeks where the police arrested several dozens of people and detained many more others.

Hong Kong, which has a population of 7.2 million, received more than 47 million mainland Chinese, mostly on day trips, last year.
The figure made up more than 78 percent of tourists that visited Hong Kong last year. 

TagsHong Kong, protests, Shopping, police