Employees from Chinese-owned Xianlang Trade store salvage anything possible from their shop, which was trashed but not torched during the Nuku'alofa riots on Thursday 16th November 2006. Rioters looted businesses and started fires that destroyed 80% of the buildings in the area. The disturbance began after the government stalled on legislation setting up a more democratic election in 2008 as it closed for the year. The market is now a temporary prison following the arrest of over 200 people.