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Hong Kong protest: police fire rounds of tear gas at protesters trying to leave campus – live Hong Kong protest: police fire rounds of tear gas at protesters trying to leave campus – live
(32 minutes later)
Police pulled back after attempted dawn raid on Polytechnic University was met with firePolice pulled back after attempted dawn raid on Polytechnic University was met with fire
Earlier today, chief executive Carrie Lam visited an injured police officer in hospital.
The officer had been shot in the leg with an arrow on Sunday during the early stages of the Poly U standoff.
An escalating situation along Gascoigne Road, in Jordan, on the outskirts of Poly U.
Police are currently advancing along the road and firing tear gas, while protesters respond with “at least one petrol bomb”, according to the South China Morning Post.
Protesters and police are 100 metres apart, SCMP report.
Here is Deutsche Welle reporter Phoebe Kong on the same theme.
The Foreign Correspondents Club has condemned the police obstruction of media coverage of the Poly U standoff.
The FCC says journalists were blocked from entry and exit, searched and threatened with arrest under riot charges.
They are also calling on police to investigate reports of an incident in Mong Kok where an officer allegedly targeted a journalist.
“The FCC calls on the police to conduct a thorough investigation of a police officer who allegedly targeted a journalist in Mong Kok this weekend with a sponge grenade. Police said the officer was put on leave and that they are investigating the incident.
“The FCC considers this a serious breach of press freedom and the right of the media under Hong Kong law to cover the protests free of intimidation or violence...We again call for an independent investigation into police violence against journalists and any interference with the media’s right under Hong Kong law to cover the unrest.”
The full statement is here.
On the outskirts of the university, a protester has also been shot in the forehead with a projectile and is bleeding, according to Hong Kong Free Press and the South China Morning Post.On the outskirts of the university, a protester has also been shot in the forehead with a projectile and is bleeding, according to Hong Kong Free Press and the South China Morning Post.
The man is on Gascogne Road outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei.The man is on Gascogne Road outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei.
At the same time, police have also fired tear gas into a crowd across the West Kowloon Corridor, the SCMP reports.At the same time, police have also fired tear gas into a crowd across the West Kowloon Corridor, the SCMP reports.
Hong Kong police have released a statement, calling on protesters to leave the campus via a specific route: the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge.Hong Kong police have released a statement, calling on protesters to leave the campus via a specific route: the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge.
Earlier, protesters had attempted to leave, but had been driven back in by multiple rounds of tear gas.Earlier, protesters had attempted to leave, but had been driven back in by multiple rounds of tear gas.
The statement has no indication of whether protesters will be arrested or not.The statement has no indication of whether protesters will be arrested or not.
“The police appeal to everyone inside the Polytechnic University to drop their weapons and dangerous items, remove their gas masks and leave via the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge in an orderly manner,” it says.“The police appeal to everyone inside the Polytechnic University to drop their weapons and dangerous items, remove their gas masks and leave via the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge in an orderly manner,” it says.
“They should follow police instructions and must not charge at police cordons.”“They should follow police instructions and must not charge at police cordons.”
The statement says tear gas was fired during the last attempt to leave because the protesters had thrown petrol bombs and “charged” at cordons.The statement says tear gas was fired during the last attempt to leave because the protesters had thrown petrol bombs and “charged” at cordons.
“After repeated warnings were ignored, police officers dispersed the rioters with tear gas, the minimum force necessary,” they said. “The rioters are hereby warned to stop their unlawful acts.”“After repeated warnings were ignored, police officers dispersed the rioters with tear gas, the minimum force necessary,” they said. “The rioters are hereby warned to stop their unlawful acts.”
Over the past two hours, attention has turned to the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui – outside Poly U – where over a hundred people have been arrested and detained in public.Over the past two hours, attention has turned to the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui – outside Poly U – where over a hundred people have been arrested and detained in public.
As those inside the campus continue their standoff with police, dozens of people outside, who have variously been trying to reach the university, provide support or ask police to lift the siege, have been arrested.As those inside the campus continue their standoff with police, dozens of people outside, who have variously been trying to reach the university, provide support or ask police to lift the siege, have been arrested.
A senior US official has also condemned the “unjustified use of force” in Hong Kong in recent days, and said they are monitoring the situation.A senior US official has also condemned the “unjustified use of force” in Hong Kong in recent days, and said they are monitoring the situation.
Earlier, the university president, Professor Teng Jin-guang, said he had negotiated a temporary suspension of the use of force with the police and urged protesters to “leave the campus in a peaceful manner”.Earlier, the university president, Professor Teng Jin-guang, said he had negotiated a temporary suspension of the use of force with the police and urged protesters to “leave the campus in a peaceful manner”.
But as protesters tried to leave the university, at 8.30am, they were stopped by “round after round” of tear gas, lasting a few minutes, forcing them back inside.But as protesters tried to leave the university, at 8.30am, they were stopped by “round after round” of tear gas, lasting a few minutes, forcing them back inside.
Protesters are now currently still inside the university campus, fearing that they will be trapped and arrested en masse by police.Protesters are now currently still inside the university campus, fearing that they will be trapped and arrested en masse by police.
The Hang Seng has risen again, despite the unrest today.The Hang Seng has risen again, despite the unrest today.
An hour ago, the index was up 0.56%. It’s now up 1.13%, as of 11am.An hour ago, the index was up 0.56%. It’s now up 1.13%, as of 11am.
At least 38 people have been injured and taken to hospital since Sunday morning, according to the Hospital Authority.At least 38 people have been injured and taken to hospital since Sunday morning, according to the Hospital Authority.
The oldest is an 84-year old man.The oldest is an 84-year old man.
14 people received hospital treatment on Sunday, and 24 more were taken to hospital between Sunday midnight and 7.30 am on Monday.14 people received hospital treatment on Sunday, and 24 more were taken to hospital between Sunday midnight and 7.30 am on Monday.
Five people are in a serious condition, and 17 people are stable but remain in hospital.Five people are in a serious condition, and 17 people are stable but remain in hospital.
Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo says medics are among those arrested at Poly U.Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo says medics are among those arrested at Poly U.
According to Reuters, a senior US official has condemned the “unjustified use of force” in Hong Kong and encouraged China to “protect Hong Kong’s freedom”.According to Reuters, a senior US official has condemned the “unjustified use of force” in Hong Kong and encouraged China to “protect Hong Kong’s freedom”.
“We condemn the unjustified use of force and urge all sides to refrain from violence and engage in constructive dialogue,” the official said.“We condemn the unjustified use of force and urge all sides to refrain from violence and engage in constructive dialogue,” the official said.
“The United States expects Beijing to honour its commitments under the Sino-British joint Declaration and to protect Hong Kong’s freedom, legal system and democratic way of life.”“The United States expects Beijing to honour its commitments under the Sino-British joint Declaration and to protect Hong Kong’s freedom, legal system and democratic way of life.”
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China will close five of its branches today due to the unrest, the South China Morning Post reports.The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China will close five of its branches today due to the unrest, the South China Morning Post reports.
Estimates are that more than 100 people have been arrested in Tsim Sha Tsui.Estimates are that more than 100 people have been arrested in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Some further footage of the dozens of protestors who were arrested in Tsim Sha Tsui at around 10am.Some further footage of the dozens of protestors who were arrested in Tsim Sha Tsui at around 10am.
The violent scenes in Hong Kong don’t appear to have unnerved investors, who have sent the Hang Seng index up by 0.56%. The benchmark index lost more than 1,000 points last week amid the turmoil but it’s looking a bit healthier today, up 115 points to 26,442.The violent scenes in Hong Kong don’t appear to have unnerved investors, who have sent the Hang Seng index up by 0.56%. The benchmark index lost more than 1,000 points last week amid the turmoil but it’s looking a bit healthier today, up 115 points to 26,442.
This is Naaman Zhou, taking over from my colleague Kate Lyons.This is Naaman Zhou, taking over from my colleague Kate Lyons.
Two protesters at Poly U have reportedly surrendered themselves to police, according to this footage from Reuters.Two protesters at Poly U have reportedly surrendered themselves to police, according to this footage from Reuters.
Chinese state media labels protesters ‘competely hysterical terrorists’Chinese state media labels protesters ‘competely hysterical terrorists’
The Global Times, a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party, has published its take on last night’s clashes between police and demonstrators, whom the paper labelled “terrorists” who had turned the university into a “warzone”. The paper said that protesters had “gone completely hysterical and acted like terrorists as they attack police with lethal weapons, target innocent residents and turn campuses into battlefields.”The Global Times, a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party, has published its take on last night’s clashes between police and demonstrators, whom the paper labelled “terrorists” who had turned the university into a “warzone”. The paper said that protesters had “gone completely hysterical and acted like terrorists as they attack police with lethal weapons, target innocent residents and turn campuses into battlefields.”
“At midnight, Hong Kong Police Superintendent Louis Lau Siu-pong warned rioters during a live broadcast that if they continued to attack the police with deadly weapons including Molotov cocktails and arrows, the police would respond with all possible minimum force, which would include live rounds,” read the article.“At midnight, Hong Kong Police Superintendent Louis Lau Siu-pong warned rioters during a live broadcast that if they continued to attack the police with deadly weapons including Molotov cocktails and arrows, the police would respond with all possible minimum force, which would include live rounds,” read the article.
“Around 10 pm, a rioter drove a car at police and crushed one from behind. One officer fired a live round at the vehicle. The police have condemned such terrorist-like activities. Skirmishes started since Saturday night, when black-clad rioters near the PolyU staged a confrontation with police. Rioters started fires, set up barricades, hurled Molotov cocktails, while local media reported that hazardous chemicals had been stolen from multiple campus laboratories of PolyU.”“Around 10 pm, a rioter drove a car at police and crushed one from behind. One officer fired a live round at the vehicle. The police have condemned such terrorist-like activities. Skirmishes started since Saturday night, when black-clad rioters near the PolyU staged a confrontation with police. Rioters started fires, set up barricades, hurled Molotov cocktails, while local media reported that hazardous chemicals had been stolen from multiple campus laboratories of PolyU.”
The paper also noted that a police officer from the Force Media Liaison Cadre was shot with an arrow during the fighting.The paper also noted that a police officer from the Force Media Liaison Cadre was shot with an arrow during the fighting.