SHOPPING MALL AND ON THE STREETS. NBC'S ERIN McLAUGHLIN

THE STREETS. NBC'S ERIN McLAUGHLIN HAS THE LATEST.

NBC'S ERIN McLAUGHLIN HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: TONIGHT

HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: TONIGHT IN HONG KONG ON THE

>> Reporter: TONIGHT IN HONG KONG ON THE EVE BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

IN HONG KONG ON THE EVE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CLASHES AT ONE OF THE

EVE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CLASHES AT ONE OF THE CITY'S LUXURY SHOPPING

CLASHES AT ONE OF THE CITY'S LUXURY SHOPPING MALLS.

CITY'S LUXURY SHOPPING MALLS. CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS

MALLS. CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS WATCH IN SHOCK AS

CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS WATCH IN SHOCK AS PLAINCLOTHES POLICE

WATCH IN SHOCK AS PLAINCLOTHES POLICE OFFICERS IN BLACK AND

PLAINCLOTHES POLICE OFFICERS IN BLACK AND GREEN JACKETS BEAT

OFFICERS IN BLACK AND GREEN JACKETS BEAT BACK ANTI-GOVERNMENT

GREEN JACKETS BEAT BACK ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS.

BACK ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS. >> I'M FIGHTING.

DEMONSTRATORS. >> I'M FIGHTING. >> Reporter:

>> I'M FIGHTING. >> Reporter: PROTESTERS SAY IT'S A

>> Reporter: PROTESTERS SAY IT'S A FIGHT FOR GREATER

PROTESTERS SAY IT'S A FIGHT FOR GREATER DEMOCRACY WHAT SOME

FIGHT FOR GREATER DEMOCRACY WHAT SOME HAVE SARCASTICALLY

DEMOCRACY WHAT SOME HAVE SARCASTICALLY DUBBED HONG KONG'S

HAVE SARCASTICALLY DUBBED HONG KONG'S WHITE CHRISTMAS.

DUBBED HONG KONG'S WHITE CHRISTMAS. INSTEAD OF SNOW, TEAR

WHITE CHRISTMAS. INSTEAD OF SNOW, TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY.

INSTEAD OF SNOW, TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY. JOURNALIST JASMINE

GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY. JOURNALIST JASMINE LEUNG TOLD US THE

JOURNALIST JASMINE LEUNG TOLD US THE CLASHES LASTED INTO

LEUNG TOLD US THE CLASHES LASTED INTO CHRISTMAS DAY.

CLASHES LASTED INTO CHRISTMAS DAY. >> IT'S 3:00 IN THE

CHRISTMAS DAY. >> IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING IN HONG KONG.

>> IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING IN HONG KONG. STILL ON THE STREET.

MORNING IN HONG KONG. STILL ON THE STREET. >> Reporter: AT ONE

STILL ON THE STREET. >> Reporter: AT ONE POINT POLICE VANS

>> Reporter: AT ONE POINT POLICE VANS BROKE THROUGH A

POINT POLICE VANS BROKE THROUGH A MAKESHIFT BARRICADE

BROKE THROUGH A MAKESHIFT BARRICADE ERECTED IN THE MIDDLE

MAKESHIFT BARRICADE ERECTED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH-END TOURIST

ERECTED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH-END TOURIST HUB ONLY FOR

OF A HIGH-END TOURIST HUB ONLY FOR PROTESTERS TO GO ABOUT

HUB ONLY FOR PROTESTERS TO GO ABOUT SETTING IT UP AGAIN.

PROTESTERS TO GO ABOUT SETTING IT UP AGAIN. THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE

SETTING IT UP AGAIN. THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE NOW IN ITS SEVENTH

THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE NOW IN ITS SEVENTH MONTH.

NOW IN ITS SEVENTH MONTH. OBSERVERS SAY PROTEST

MONTH. OBSERVERS SAY PROTEST INTENSITY DIPPED IN

OBSERVERS SAY PROTEST INTENSITY DIPPED IN DECEMBER, BUT WITH

INTENSITY DIPPED IN DECEMBER, BUT WITH MORE PROTESTS IN THE

DECEMBER, BUT WITH MORE PROTESTS IN THE WORKS, QUESTIONS OF

MORE PROTESTS IN THE WORKS, QUESTIONS OF THIS LATEST SPIKE WILL