Background:
Before the handover of Hong Kong, every year street vendors were free to set up stalls during the first 3 days of Lunar New Year celebration with little to no government interference. The presence of mobile food carts selling local Hong Kong style snacks during nighttime at Lunar New Year has been a part of Hong Kong's collective culture. Yet the current Hong Kong Government has refused to issue license to street vendors to legalize their trade. Over the years the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to harass and suppress street vendors, who are just ordinary Hong Kong citizens trying to make an honest living.

Timeline:
20:00 A group of street vendors set up food stalls at Mongkok's Portland Street. Many Hong Kong residents showed up to support the vendors' effort. People started to gather in Mongkok to enjoy fishballs, a popular street food in Hong Kong.

22:00 Officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department showed up attempting to issue tickets to the street vendors. The crowd was upset that FEHD refused to show any leniency to Hong Kong citizens even during Lunar New Year. A number of locals began protesting against FEHD officers' actions.

22:20 A large number of police officers showed up and tried to crack down on the crowd who were just there hoping to enjoy some fishballs.

23:58 - 02:00 The presence of Hong Kong Police further agitated the crowd. Police escalated their force and pepper sprayed the unarmed crowd for at least 20 times.

02:05 Police officers fired 2 shots into the air. This was captured on live TV.

（captured from TVB news）