Part 2: (not in video but important situational context) Lennon Wall Organizers and event-goers reported on the telegram group that they are being followed by Pro-CCP people as they leave the event. They don't feel safe. Police stepped in, luckily. Pics coming. pic.twitter.com/kLxFTiSGyF

There was allegedly a shouting match and a “Mandarin-speaking group tossed a bunch of coins, loonies and toonies, at one supporter (of the Hong Kong protests), and then things got heated,” said a Richmond resident named Brian who was at the station.

“I think that there are a few (pro-China) individuals that we are starting to recognize as being present (at pro-Hong Kong events),” said Vancouver community organizer Kevin Huang. “And for us, it’s, ‘Hey, let’s keep an eye on these individuals’ because it’s becoming apparent that many of them aren’t afraid to use more aggressive tactics to shut down freedom of speech and political art.”

He has heard occasional reports of confrontations on the streets of Vancouver between those who support the months-long protests in Hong Kong and those who back Beijing. Huang received messages on Tuesday from witnesses at the Richmond gathering, who also sent videos of the confrontation, as well as from students at the University of B.C. who became involved in an encounter at a similar pro-Hong Kong site. Huang said that because he doesn’t have family in or travel to Hong Kong or China, he is among only a few in Vancouver willing to speak up and be quoted using his full name. “There is a fear that people (who speak out against China) will be (investigated here in Vancouver) as well,” said Huang. Huang said that it is important to note that at almost every pro-Hong Kong protest in Vancouver, there has been a “diversity of folks, with some Mandarin-speakers in support of (the Hong Kong protesters). So we need to be careful when discussing who is pro-Beijing and who (supports the protests).” The Chinese consulate in Vancouver said of the incident at Aberdeen Station: “We noted the media reports. Any attempts aimed at instigating chaos in Hong Kong or separating Hong Kong from China will never succeed.”

Richmond RCMP Cpl. Dennis Hwang said police were aware that a gathering would take place on Tuesday at Aberdeen Station. No arrests were made.

In cities and campuses around the world, including at Simon Fraser University, student associations have stepped in to try and protect messages of support posted on commemorative walls, which are in the spirit of the many such postings on walls, escalators and bridges in Hong Kong. On Tuesday, the University of B.C.’s Alma Mater Society said a similar wall on its campus was now under video surveillance and any tampering could result in disciplinary action.

In Hong Kong, there is fresh anger over the police shooting of an 18-year-old student and disagreement over who was to blame. The Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement issued a statement denouncing the “(Chinese Communist Party)-controlled Hong Kong government and Hong Kong police.”