Hong Kong malls become flashpoint for protests during Christmas holiday

Hong Kong’s shopping malls have become a flash point for protests during the Christmas holiday, with more rallies set for Thursday.

Pro-democracy demonstrations have been called for the afternoon of Boxing Day at shopping centers in areas including Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, according to notices distributed through social media. The protesters are hoping to attract attention to their cause by forcing malls and stores to close, according to the notices.

Shopping centers have been among the sites of confrontations between protesters and police in each of the past two days. Police fired tear gas to disperse