Lei Sio-kuan, president of the Macau Workers Power Union - one of the five protest organisers – was arrested for assaulting an Australian during a May Day rally attended by around 1,000. Lei himself denies the assault. According to official reports some 41 people, including 32 policemen and two journalists, were hurt, although these figures were given at a later stage. Four were hospitalised.
Some 350 riot police used water cannons and pepper spray when marchers tried to force a way through barricades while the protesters reportedly responded with rocks and bottles. The protest continued until early the next morning. One unionist later said police used excessive force and anti-triad tactics. Workers also reported that the authorities had rejected their proposed march route on short notice and that they had had no time to develop a new proposal. May Day rallies have become increasingly large and volatile in the past few years as complaints over corruption, low pay and migrant workers have increased.