the trigger of this protest is the parallel traders from mainland china who use multiple entry visa policy to import goods, such as milk powder, shampoo, medicine back to china and sell them. the parallel traders were mainly active in the north district. perceived shortages and inflation led the residents there to respond with the "recover sheung shui" campaign to protest this situation in 2012. however, the parallel traders' sphere of activity expanded to tuen mun, sha tin and yuen long due to the convenience of transportation and led to the "liberate" activities of these districts.