Has The Situation In Hong Kong Gone Completely Out Of Control?

Gravitas: Unprecedented violence in Hong Kong

A government ban on demonstrators wearing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/asian-airlines-slash-flights-to-hong-kong-as-unrest-escalates-262832">face masks</a>, aimed at helping to quell months of pro-democracy unrest in Hong Kong, is unconstitutional, the territory's high court ruled Monday.

"The restrictions it imposes on fundamental rights... go further than is reasonably necessary... and therefore fail to meet the proportionality test," the court said, according to a press summary.

The ban on face-covering came into force in October, when the city's unelected pro-Beijing leader invoked colonial-era legislation for the first time in more than 50 years.

The move was seen as a watershed legal moment for the city since its 1997 return by Britain to China&nbsp;but has been largely symbolic.

Demonstrators,&nbsp;most of them wearing masks,&nbsp;have continued to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-protesters-set-fire-to-hold-off-police-at-university-campus-262783">clash with police</a>, often violently, as they press their demands for greater democracy for Hong Kong, as well as an independent inquiry into alleged brutality by the increasingly unpopular police force.

A government ban on demonstrators wearing face masks, aimed at helping to quell months of pro-democracy unrest in Hong Kong, is unconstitutional, the territory's high court ruled Monday.

A government ban on demonstrators wearing face masks, aimed at helping to quell months of pro-democracy unrest in Hong Kong, is unconstitutional, the territory's high court ruled Monday. "The restrictions it imposes on fundamental rights... go further than is reasonably necessary... and therefore fail to meet the proportionality test," the court said, according to a press summary. The ban on face-covering came into force in October, when the city's unelected pro-Beijing leader invoked colonial-era legislation for the first time in more than 50 years. The move was seen as a watershed legal moment for the city since its 1997 return by Britain to China but has been largely symbolic. Demonstrators, most of them wearing masks, have continued to clash with police, often violently, as they press their demands for greater democracy for Hong Kong, as well as an independent inquiry into alleged brutality by the increasingly unpopular police force.

Ban on wearing face masks restricts fundamental rights, rules Hong Kong high court

China will not simply sit back and watch if months of protests in Hong Kong develop into an "uncontrollable" situation, Beijing's ambassador to Britain said Monday.

"I think the Hong Kong government is trying very hard to put the situation under control," Liu Xiaoming told a London press conference, as fresh violence erupted after months of protests.

"But if the situation becomes uncontrollable, the central government would certainly not sit on our hands and watch. We have enough resolution and power to end the unrest."

The comments from China's top diplomat in London came after a brief and rare deployment of Chinese troops in Hong Kong over the weekend to clean up streets.

The People's Liberation Army has a barracks in an upper-class district of Hong Kong.

Asked about a possible intervention, the envoy said: "They are there to show Chinese sovereignty and they are there for defence purposes."

Liu Xiaoming also warned against "external interference" in internal Chinese affairs, singling out Britain and the United States and accusing them of condoning violence by protesters.

Last week, a Hong Kong government minister was injured as pro-democracy campaigners surrounded her when she arrived for a speaking engagement in London.

Britain, the former colonial power in Hong Kong, on Monday said it was "seriously concerned" about the latest outbreak of violence.

Riot police sought to dislodge several hundred pro-democracy protesters who occupied a university and set fire to its main entrance.

Police -- who have been attacked with arrows in recent days -- used tear gas and fired live rounds.

"It is vital that those who are injured are able to receive appropriate medical treatment, and that safe passage is made available for all those who wish to leave the area," the Foreign Office said.

It called for an end to the violence, "and for all sides to engage in meaningful political dialogue ahead of the District Council elections on Sunday".

The envoy said the "illegal, violent activities" of protesters had "pushed Hong Kong into an extremely dangerous situation".

The unrest had eroded China's "one country, two systems" approach to governing Hong Kong, although he said Beijing remained committed to the policy.&nbsp;

He accused demonstrators of trying to destabilise and paralyse Hong Kong to "seize power" in a push for independence.

"Hong Kong citizens live under black terror created by violent extremism with their life and property under severe threat," he said.

Hong Kong's economy has slumped into technical recession because of the months of protests, denting its international image as a place to do business, he said.

"The once 'Oriental pearl' is turning into the 'Oriental scar'. Hong Kong, the 'fragrant harbour', is sliding into 'an abyss of chaos'.

"The future of Hong Kong, if such a situation continues, would be unimaginably dreadful."

phz-ar/bp

China will not simply sit back and watch if months of protests in Hong Kong develop into an "uncontrollable" situation, Beijing's ambassador to Britain said Monday.

China will not simply sit back and watch if months of protests in Hong Kong develop into an "uncontrollable" situation, Beijing's ambassador to Britain said Monday. "I think the Hong Kong government is trying very hard to put the situation under control," Liu Xiaoming told a London press conference, as fresh violence erupted after months of protests. "But if the situation becomes uncontrollable, the central government would certainly not sit on our hands and watch. We have enough resolution and power to end the unrest." The comments from China's top diplomat in London came after a brief and rare deployment of Chinese troops in Hong Kong over the weekend to clean up streets. The People's Liberation Army has a barracks in an upper-class district of Hong Kong. Asked about a possible intervention, the envoy said: "They are there to show Chinese sovereignty and they are there for defence purposes." Liu Xiaoming also warned against "external interference" in internal Chinese affairs, singling out Britain and the United States and accusing them of condoning violence by protesters. Last week, a Hong Kong government minister was injured as pro-democracy campaigners surrounded her when she arrived for a speaking engagement in London. Britain, the former colonial power in Hong Kong, on Monday said it was "seriously concerned" about the latest outbreak of violence. Riot police sought to dislodge several hundred pro-democracy protesters who occupied a university and set fire to its main entrance. Police -- who have been attacked with arrows in recent days -- used tear gas and fired live rounds. "It is vital that those who are injured are able to receive appropriate medical treatment, and that safe passage is made available for all those who wish to leave the area," the Foreign Office said. It called for an end to the violence, "and for all sides to engage in meaningful political dialogue ahead of the District Council elections on Sunday". The envoy said the "illegal, violent activities" of protesters had "pushed Hong Kong into an extremely dangerous situation". The unrest had eroded China's "one country, two systems" approach to governing Hong Kong, although he said Beijing remained committed to the policy. He accused demonstrators of trying to destabilise and paralyse Hong Kong to "seize power" in a push for independence. "Hong Kong citizens live under black terror created by violent extremism with their life and property under severe threat," he said. Hong Kong's economy has slumped into technical recession because of the months of protests, denting its international image as a place to do business, he said. "The once 'Oriental pearl' is turning into the 'Oriental scar'. Hong Kong, the 'fragrant harbour', is sliding into 'an abyss of chaos'. "The future of Hong Kong, if such a situation continues, would be unimaginably dreadful." phz-ar/bp

China will not sit back if Hong Kong demonstrations get 'uncontrollable': Envoy

China's ambassador to Britain on Monday warned against any "external interference" in Hong Kong, where months of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/hong-kong-police-legitimacy-draining-away-amid-spiral-of-rage-and-retaliation-262898">protests have erupted into increasingly violen</a>t confrontations.

At a press conference in London, Liu Xiaoming singled out Britain and the United States for meddling in internal Chinese affairs.

"We would like to tell those external forces that the Chinese government remains steadfast... to oppose any" external interference in Hong Kong affairs, he said.

The comments came as Britain, the former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-defence-ministry-defends-deploying-soldiers-in-hong-kong-calls-it-most-pressing-task-262844">colonial power in Hong Kong</a>, expressed concerns about the escalation of violence between protesters and authorities.

Riot police on Monday sought to dislodge several hundred pro-democracy protesters who occupied a university and had set fire to its main entrance.

Police, who have in recent days been attacked with arrows, used tear gas and fired live rounds.

"The UK is seriously concerned by the escalation in violence from both the protesters and the authorities around Hong Kong university campuses," the British Foreign Office said.&nbsp;

"It is vital that those who are injured are able to receive appropriate medical treatment, and that safe passage is made available for all those who wish to leave the area.&nbsp;

"We need to see an end to the violence, and for all sides to engage in meaningful political dialogue ahead of the District Council elections on Sunday."

Liu Xiaoming accused the protesters of trying to destabilise and paralyse Hong Kong to "seize power".

"Hong Kong citizens live under black terror created by violent extremism with their life and property under severe threat," he said.

He warned that Hong Kong was "sliding into the abyss" and if the violence continues, "the future will be unimaginably dreadful".

"The once Oriental star is turning into the Oriental scar," he told reporters.

China's ambassador to Britain on Monday warned against any "external interference" in Hong Kong, where months of protests have erupted into increasingly violent confrontations.

China's ambassador to Britain on Monday warned against any "external interference" in Hong Kong, where months of protests have erupted into increasingly violent confrontations. At a press conference in London, Liu Xiaoming singled out Britain and the United States for meddling in internal Chinese affairs. "We would like to tell those external forces that the Chinese government remains steadfast... to oppose any" external interference in Hong Kong affairs, he said. The comments came as Britain, the former colonial power in Hong Kong, expressed concerns about the escalation of violence between protesters and authorities. Riot police on Monday sought to dislodge several hundred pro-democracy protesters who occupied a university and had set fire to its main entrance. Police, who have in recent days been attacked with arrows, used tear gas and fired live rounds. "The UK is seriously concerned by the escalation in violence from both the protesters and the authorities around Hong Kong university campuses," the British Foreign Office said. "It is vital that those who are injured are able to receive appropriate medical treatment, and that safe passage is made available for all those who wish to leave the area. "We need to see an end to the violence, and for all sides to engage in meaningful political dialogue ahead of the District Council elections on Sunday." Liu Xiaoming accused the protesters of trying to destabilise and paralyse Hong Kong to "seize power". "Hong Kong citizens live under black terror created by violent extremism with their life and property under severe threat," he said. He warned that Hong Kong was "sliding into the abyss" and if the violence continues, "the future will be unimaginably dreadful". "The once Oriental star is turning into the Oriental scar," he told reporters.

China envoy warns US, UK against 'external interference' in Hong Kong

A police officer was struck by an arrow fired by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday and an armoured vehicle set ablaze, as fierce clashes raged into the night around a campus which has turned into a base for a pro-democracy movement whose protests have plunged the city into turmoil.

Protests have tremored through the global financial hub since June with many in the city of 7.5 million people venting fury at eroding freedoms under Chinese rule.

China has repeatedly warned that it will not tolerate the dissent, and there have been concerns that Beijing could send in troops to put an end to the unrest.

Chinese President Xi Jinping this week issued his most strident comments on the crisis, saying it threatened the "one country, two systems" model under which Hong Kong has been ruled since the 1997 handover from Britain.

On Sunday activists dug in at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) vowing to defend it from police and to maintain a blockade on the nearby Cross Harbour Tunnel, which has been closed for several days.

As dusk fell, police tried to retake a footbridge over the tunnel but were met by a barrage of petrol bombs that caused a huge fire.

Later an armoured vehicle edged towards protesters encamped on a flyover near the university, who met it with a flurry of petrol bombs setting the vehicle alight, according to a live-streamed video of the incident shown by several local media.

The driver was forced to retreat and the fire was extinguished as protesters appeared resolute in their desire to turn the campus into a hub -- a twist in tactics by a leaderless movement so far defined by its fluid, unpredictable nature.

"We need a base to keep our gear and have some rest at night before another fight in the morning," said a 23-year-old PolyU student called Kason.

Earlier, activists parried attempts by police to break through into the PolyU campus, firing rocks from a homemade catapult from the university roof.

An AFP reporter saw a team of masked archers -- several carrying sports bows -- patrolling the campus.

Police shared images of an arrow embedded in the calf of an officer outside the campus and decried the use of "lethal weapons," declaring the campus a "riot scene" -- a rioting conviction carries up to 10 years in jail.

Activists have vowed to wreak further havoc on Monday, in a follow-up to a week of chaos which left city streets strewn with debris and saw white-collar workers take to the streets in support of the frontline protesters.

'Squeeze the economy'

Demonstrators last week engineered a "Blossom Everywhere" campaign of blockades and vandalism, which forced the police to draft in prison officers, shut down large chunks of Hong Kong's train network and closed schools and shopping malls.

The movement, characterised by its fluidity and unpredictability, has started to coagulate in fixed locations, showing their ability to switch tactics.

The protests started against a now shelved bill to allow extradition to China but have billowed to encompass wider issues such as perceived police brutality and calls for universal suffrage in the former British colony.

Two people have died this month as the violence worsened, while the financial hub has been pushed into a recession by the turmoil.

Hong Kong's airport authority on Sunday said October traffic figures were down 13 per cent on last year with 5.4 million passengers as the economy takes a battering.

A poster circulating on social media called for the "dawn action" to continue on Monday.&nbsp;

"Get up early, directly target the regime, squeeze the economy to increase pressure," it said.

The education bureau said schools will remain closed again on Monday.

Divided city

Earlier on Sunday, dozens of pro-government supporters gathered to clear barricades near the university campus -- a sign of the divisions slicing through the city.

Many residents are wearied by the sapping protests. Others support the Chinese-backed city government.

Some applauded a Saturday cameo in a clean-up by Chinese troops from a garrison of the People's Liberation Army in Kowloon, who burst from the barracks in a rare and highly symbolic appearance on Hong Kong's streets.

The garrison is usually confined to the barracks under Hong Kong's mini-constitution, although it can be deployed under the request of the city's government to help with public order breakdown or natural disasters.

Hong Kong government, which presides over a city that enjoys greater freedoms than the mainland, said it did not ask the PLA for help on Saturday.

The choreographed troop movement "has only compounded the impression that Beijing has simply ignored" Hong Kong's unique political system, said analyst Dixon Sing. 
&nbsp;

A police officer was struck by an arrow fired by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday and an armoured vehicle set ablaze, as fierce clashes raged into the night around a campus which has turned into a base for a pro-democracy movement whose protests have plunged the city into turmoil.

A police officer was struck by an arrow fired by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday and an armoured vehicle set ablaze, as fierce clashes raged into the night around a campus which has turned into a base for a pro-democracy movement whose protests have plunged the city into turmoil. Protests have tremored through the global financial hub since June with many in the city of 7.5 million people venting fury at eroding freedoms under Chinese rule. China has repeatedly warned that it will not tolerate the dissent, and there have been concerns that Beijing could send in troops to put an end to the unrest. Chinese President Xi Jinping this week issued his most strident comments on the crisis, saying it threatened the "one country, two systems" model under which Hong Kong has been ruled since the 1997 handover from Britain. On Sunday activists dug in at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) vowing to defend it from police and to maintain a blockade on the nearby Cross Harbour Tunnel, which has been closed for several days. As dusk fell, police tried to retake a footbridge over the tunnel but were met by a barrage of petrol bombs that caused a huge fire. Later an armoured vehicle edged towards protesters encamped on a flyover near the university, who met it with a flurry of petrol bombs setting the vehicle alight, according to a live-streamed video of the incident shown by several local media. The driver was forced to retreat and the fire was extinguished as protesters appeared resolute in their desire to turn the campus into a hub -- a twist in tactics by a leaderless movement so far defined by its fluid, unpredictable nature. "We need a base to keep our gear and have some rest at night before another fight in the morning," said a 23-year-old PolyU student called Kason. Earlier, activists parried attempts by police to break through into the PolyU campus, firing rocks from a homemade catapult from the university roof. An AFP reporter saw a team of masked archers -- several carrying sports bows -- patrolling the campus. Police shared images of an arrow embedded in the calf of an officer outside the campus and decried the use of "lethal weapons," declaring the campus a "riot scene" -- a rioting conviction carries up to 10 years in jail. Activists have vowed to wreak further havoc on Monday, in a follow-up to a week of chaos which left city streets strewn with debris and saw white-collar workers take to the streets in support of the frontline protesters. 'Squeeze the economy' Demonstrators last week engineered a "Blossom Everywhere" campaign of blockades and vandalism, which forced the police to draft in prison officers, shut down large chunks of Hong Kong's train network and closed schools and shopping malls. The movement, characterised by its fluidity and unpredictability, has started to coagulate in fixed locations, showing their ability to switch tactics. The protests started against a now shelved bill to allow extradition to China but have billowed to encompass wider issues such as perceived police brutality and calls for universal suffrage in the former British colony. Two people have died this month as the violence worsened, while the financial hub has been pushed into a recession by the turmoil. Hong Kong's airport authority on Sunday said October traffic figures were down 13 per cent on last year with 5.4 million passengers as the economy takes a battering. A poster circulating on social media called for the "dawn action" to continue on Monday. "Get up early, directly target the regime, squeeze the economy to increase pressure," it said. The education bureau said schools will remain closed again on Monday. Divided city Earlier on Sunday, dozens of pro-government supporters gathered to clear barricades near the university campus -- a sign of the divisions slicing through the city. Many residents are wearied by the sapping protests. Others support the Chinese-backed city government. Some applauded a Saturday cameo in a clean-up by Chinese troops from a garrison of the People's Liberation Army in Kowloon, who burst from the barracks in a rare and highly symbolic appearance on Hong Kong's streets. The garrison is usually confined to the barracks under Hong Kong's mini-constitution, although it can be deployed under the request of the city's government to help with public order breakdown or natural disasters. Hong Kong government, which presides over a city that enjoys greater freedoms than the mainland, said it did not ask the PLA for help on Saturday. The choreographed troop movement "has only compounded the impression that Beijing has simply ignored" Hong Kong's unique political system, said analyst Dixon Sing.

Hong Kong protest: Armoured vehicle set ablaze as fierce clashes continue

A police officer was struck in the leg by an arrow shot by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday, an AFP report said quoting city's force. Graphic images showed the arrow embedded in the calf of the police officer, who was working at the scene of fierce clashes at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on the force's media liaison team.

A police officer was struck in the leg by an arrow shot by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday, an AFP report said quoting city's force. Graphic images showed the arrow embedded in the calf of the police officer, who was working at the scene of fierce clashes at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on the force's media liaison team. The incident took place during a standoff between anti-government protesters and Hong Kong police around a barricaded university. Activists hurled petrol bombs, some by catapult, and shot arrows with bows at police who fired tear gas and water cannon in response in the standoff at the Polytechnic University in Kowloon. Clashes between protesters and police have become increasingly violent in the Chinese-ruled city, which is grappling with its biggest political crisis in decades. The demonstrations pose the gravest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012. Xi has said he is confident the Hong Kong government can resolve the crisis. Until Saturday, Chinese troops in the city had remained inside their base during the protests. (With inputs from agencies)

Arrow fired by Hong Kong protester hits police officer: Report 

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters partially unblocked a key highway on Friday and then blocked it again during the evening rush hour, exposing splits in a movement that has been largely leaderless in months of often violent unrest.

The Tolo highway runs along the side of the leafy campus of Chinese University. Protesters blocked it this week and clashed with police, throwing debris and petrol bombs on to the road linking the largely rural New Territories with the Kowloon peninsula to the south.

They turned the campus into a fortress, stockpiled with petrol bombs and bows and arrows as in several other universities, amid some of the worst violence in the former British colony in decades.

But many left after some of them allowed the partial reopening of the highway on Friday, taking others by surprise.

"I am disappointed about the decision to reopen the Tolo highway and it’s not our consensus," one student who gave his name as Cheung, 18, told Reuters.

"I was asleep when they had closed-door meetings. I was worried and scared after I realised what had happened and most protesters had left. I was worried the police might storm in again because so few people are left. Some protesters from the outside have gone too far.”

Chinese University president Rocky Tuan said in an open letter that all outsiders must leave.

"Universities are places to study, not to resolve political disputes, or even a battlefield to create weapons and use force," he said.

"If the university cannot continue to fulfil its basic mission and tasks, we must seek the assistance of relevant government departments to lift the current crisis."

The highway closed again on Friday evening after its partial reopening and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, outside the barricaded Polytechnic University where protesters have practised firing bows and arrows and throwing petrol bombs in a half-empty swimming pool, remained shut.

Students and protesters, who have barricaded at least five campuses, were burning makeshift roadblocks at Chinese University.

Remaining Chinese University students hunkered down on the bridge over the Tolo highway, black pirate-style freedom flags flying from lookout posts. A few on ladders with binoculars kept watch over the road.

There were only about 200 protesters there on Friday compared to at least 1,000 two days ago. There were also clashes with police in the Kowloon district of Mong Kok, one of the most densely populated areas on Earth.

The week has seen a marked intensification of the violence.

A 70-year-old street cleaner, who had been hit in the head by one of several bricks police said had been thrown by "masked rioters", died on Thursday. On Monday, police blamed a "rioter" for dousing a man in petrol and setting him on fire. The victim is in critical condition.

On the same day, police shot a protester in the abdomen. He is in stable condition.

"We can no longer can say Hong Kong is a safe city," Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung told a briefing.

Protesters are angry at perceived Chinese meddling in the city since it returned to Beijing rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula guaranteeing its colonial-era freedoms.

China denies interfering and has blamed Western countries for stirring up trouble.

Police have kept their distance from the campuses for more than two days, saying both sides should cool off, but many observers are afraid of what will happen if and when they move in.

London altercation

China and Hong Kong both condemned an attack in London on Thursday by a "violent mob" on Hong Kong's justice secretary, the first direct altercation between demonstrators and a government minister.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng, who was in London to promote Hong Kong as a "dispute resolution and deal-making hub", was targeted by a group of protesters who shouted "murderer" and "shameful".

The Hong Kong government said Cheng suffered "serious bodily harm" but gave no details. The Chinese Embassy in Britain said Cheng was "besieged and attacked by dozens of anti-China and pro-independence activists".

The British police said a woman had been taken to hospital with an injury to her arm and that they were investigating but no arrests had been made.

The unrest poses the gravest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012. Xi said in Brazil on Thursday stopping violence was the most urgent task for Hong Kong.

The demonstrations have battered the retail and tourism sectors, with widespread disruptions across the financial centre and no end in sight to the violence and vandalism.

Hong Kong sank into recession for the first time in a decade in the third quarter, government data confirmed on Friday, with its economy shrinking by 3.2% from the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Video footage obtained by Reuters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army garrison headquarters near Hong Kong's Central business district showed more than a dozen troops conducting what appeared to be anti-riot drills against people pretending to be protesters carrying black umbrellas.

The PLA has stayed in the barracks since 1997 but China has warned that any attempt at independence will be crushed.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters partially unblocked a key highway on Friday and then blocked it again during the evening rush hour, exposing splits in a movement that has been largely leaderless in months of often violent unrest.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters partially unblocked a key highway on Friday and then blocked it again during the evening rush hour, exposing splits in a movement that has been largely leaderless in months of often violent unrest. The Tolo highway runs along the side of the leafy campus of Chinese University. Protesters blocked it this week and clashed with police, throwing debris and petrol bombs on to the road linking the largely rural New Territories with the Kowloon peninsula to the south. They turned the campus into a fortress, stockpiled with petrol bombs and bows and arrows as in several other universities, amid some of the worst violence in the former British colony in decades. But many left after some of them allowed the partial reopening of the highway on Friday, taking others by surprise. "I am disappointed about the decision to reopen the Tolo highway and it’s not our consensus," one student who gave his name as Cheung, 18, told Reuters. "I was asleep when they had closed-door meetings. I was worried and scared after I realised what had happened and most protesters had left. I was worried the police might storm in again because so few people are left. Some protesters from the outside have gone too far.” Chinese University president Rocky Tuan said in an open letter that all outsiders must leave. "Universities are places to study, not to resolve political disputes, or even a battlefield to create weapons and use force," he said. "If the university cannot continue to fulfil its basic mission and tasks, we must seek the assistance of relevant government departments to lift the current crisis." The highway closed again on Friday evening after its partial reopening and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, outside the barricaded Polytechnic University where protesters have practised firing bows and arrows and throwing petrol bombs in a half-empty swimming pool, remained shut. Students and protesters, who have barricaded at least five campuses, were burning makeshift roadblocks at Chinese University. Remaining Chinese University students hunkered down on the bridge over the Tolo highway, black pirate-style freedom flags flying from lookout posts. A few on ladders with binoculars kept watch over the road. There were only about 200 protesters there on Friday compared to at least 1,000 two days ago. There were also clashes with police in the Kowloon district of Mong Kok, one of the most densely populated areas on Earth. The week has seen a marked intensification of the violence. A 70-year-old street cleaner, who had been hit in the head by one of several bricks police said had been thrown by "masked rioters", died on Thursday. On Monday, police blamed a "rioter" for dousing a man in petrol and setting him on fire. The victim is in critical condition. On the same day, police shot a protester in the abdomen. He is in stable condition. "We can no longer can say Hong Kong is a safe city," Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung told a briefing. Protesters are angry at perceived Chinese meddling in the city since it returned to Beijing rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula guaranteeing its colonial-era freedoms. China denies interfering and has blamed Western countries for stirring up trouble. Police have kept their distance from the campuses for more than two days, saying both sides should cool off, but many observers are afraid of what will happen if and when they move in. London altercation China and Hong Kong both condemned an attack in London on Thursday by a "violent mob" on Hong Kong's justice secretary, the first direct altercation between demonstrators and a government minister. Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng, who was in London to promote Hong Kong as a "dispute resolution and deal-making hub", was targeted by a group of protesters who shouted "murderer" and "shameful". The Hong Kong government said Cheng suffered "serious bodily harm" but gave no details. The Chinese Embassy in Britain said Cheng was "besieged and attacked by dozens of anti-China and pro-independence activists". The British police said a woman had been taken to hospital with an injury to her arm and that they were investigating but no arrests had been made. The unrest poses the gravest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012. Xi said in Brazil on Thursday stopping violence was the most urgent task for Hong Kong. The demonstrations have battered the retail and tourism sectors, with widespread disruptions across the financial centre and no end in sight to the violence and vandalism. Hong Kong sank into recession for the first time in a decade in the third quarter, government data confirmed on Friday, with its economy shrinking by 3.2% from the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis. Video footage obtained by Reuters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army garrison headquarters near Hong Kong's Central business district showed more than a dozen troops conducting what appeared to be anti-riot drills against people pretending to be protesters carrying black umbrellas. The PLA has stayed in the barracks since 1997 but China has warned that any attempt at independence will be crushed.

Highway blockade reveals splits in Hong Kong protest movement

&nbsp;Hopes of a trade deal between Washington and Beijing turned world stock markets and other risk assets higher on Friday, though an escalating wave of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../urban-unrest-propels-global-wave-of-protests- 262305"> global protests from Hong Kong</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../urban-unrest-propels-global-wave-of-protests- 262305"> to Chile</a> left some deep scars.

Europe's main bourses followed Asia and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../wall-street-subdued-as-economic-trade-doubts- persist-262154">Wall Street</a> higher after White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said on Thursday that the US&nbsp;and China were getting close to an agreement and were talking every day.

"We're getting close," he told an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. "The mood music is pretty good, and that has not always been so in these things."

It kept alive hopes that MSCI's 49-country world index and Europe's STOXX 600 could both avoid their first weekly falls since the start of October, but others had little chance.

Emerging market stocks&nbsp;were down 1.7 per cent&nbsp;for the week, while the violent escalation of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong left the Hang Seng down 4.7 per cent&nbsp;&lt;.HSI&gt;, its worst weekly performance in four months.

Chinese blue-chip shares ended the day down 0.75 per cent&nbsp;and 2.4 per cent, their biggest fall since August, while fierce anti-government protests in Chile gave its currency its worst week since 2011 with a 7 per cent&nbsp;plunge.

Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital in Sydney, likened regional markets' bullish reaction to positive trade news to being in a relationship with an alcoholic, driven by entrenched hopes for recovery.

"Markets want to believe that there will be some sort of resolution to this issue, some sort of lasting truce at least, even though the experience of the last 18 months doesn't give a lot of cause for comfort," he said.

However, Oliver said weaker Chinese and US&nbsp;economies as well as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../fierce-proceedings-expected-as-impeachment- testimony-against-donald-trump-set-to-telecast-today-261802">US&nbsp;presidential election </a>next year put pressure on both sides to come to an agreement.

In currencies, the safe-haven yen&nbsp;weakened, with the dollar rising 0.17 per cent&nbsp;to buy 108.57 yen. The euro&nbsp;was barely changed at $1.1023 and the dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals was off just 0.02 per cent&nbsp;at 98.143.

Higher US&nbsp;Treasury yields also illustrated the risk-on tone in the Asian session, with the 10-year yield&nbsp;rising to 1.848 per cent&nbsp;from a US close of 1.815 per cent&nbsp;on Thursday.

The policy-sensitive two-year yield rose to 1.6101 per cent&nbsp;from 1.593 per cent on Thursday after US&nbsp;Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the risk of the U.S. economy facing a dramatic bust is remote.

A Reuters poll of more than 100 economists showed that while concerns have eased over a US&nbsp;recession, few see an economic rebound, and most believe a trade truce is unlikely in the coming year.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Government borrowing costs in Germany and France also inched up on Friday, but were set for sizeable weekly declines, in contrast to southern European countries that have come under heavy selling pressure again this week.

Germany's 10-year Bund yield was at -0.33 per cent off more than one-week lows hit on Thursday. But it is down 8 bps on the week, set for the biggest weekly fall since mid-August. Dutch 10-year bond yields are down 7 bps this week, and French yields are 5 bps lower.

Data on Thursday had showed Germany's economy grew just 0.1 per cent&nbsp;in the third quarter, with consumer spending helping the country to avoid a mild contraction and a technical recession of two quarters of economic shrinkage.

"In general, there has been risk aversion in recent days and a shift to core bond markets from the periphery," said Daniel Lenz, a rates strategist at DZ Bank.

Global sentiment has been buffeted in recent weeks by conflicting assessments of progress in talks between the United States and China aimed at ending their 16-month-long trade war.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../asian-markets-boosted-by-fresh-china-us-trade- optimism-262213">China's commerce ministry</a> said the two countries are holding "in-depth" discussions on a first phase trade agreement, and that cancelling tariffs is an important condition to reaching a deal.

China has also ended a nearly five-year ban on imports of US&nbsp;poultry meat, which the US&nbsp;Trade Representative said would lead to more than $1 billion in annual shipments to China.

Those developments followed comments from officials from both countries last week that they had a deal to roll back tariffs, only to have US&nbsp;President Donald Trump deny that any such deal had been agreed to.

The new record for the S&amp;P, which gained just 0.08 per cent&nbsp;to 3,096.63, came despite a grim outlook from network gear maker Cisco Systems &lt;CSCO.O&gt; that underlined the impact of trade uncertainty.

In commodity markets, US&nbsp;crude prices rebounded after sliding Thursday on rising US&nbsp;crude inventories. US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate crude was 0.44 per cent&nbsp;higher at $57.02 a barrel.

Global benchmark Brent crude added 0.37 per cent&nbsp;to $62.51 per barrel.

Gold retreated from gains that had been prompted by trade uncertainty. Spot gold&nbsp;was last trading at $1,463.90 per ounce, down 0.48 per cent.

($1 = 6.9941 Chinese yuan)

Hopes of a trade deal between Washington and Beijing turned world stock markets and other risk assets higher on Friday, though an escalating wave of global protests from Hong Kong to Chile left some deep scars.

Hopes of a trade deal between Washington and Beijing turned world stock markets and other risk assets higher on Friday, though an escalating wave of global protests from Hong Kong to Chile left some deep scars. Europe's main bourses followed Asia and Wall Street higher after White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said on Thursday that the US and China were getting close to an agreement and were talking every day. "We're getting close," he told an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. "The mood music is pretty good, and that has not always been so in these things." It kept alive hopes that MSCI's 49-country world index and Europe's STOXX 600 could both avoid their first weekly falls since the start of October, but others had little chance. Emerging market stocks were down 1.7 per cent for the week, while the violent escalation of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong left the Hang Seng down 4.7 per cent <.HSI>, its worst weekly performance in four months. Chinese blue-chip shares ended the day down 0.75 per cent and 2.4 per cent, their biggest fall since August, while fierce anti-government protests in Chile gave its currency its worst week since 2011 with a 7 per cent plunge. Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital in Sydney, likened regional markets' bullish reaction to positive trade news to being in a relationship with an alcoholic, driven by entrenched hopes for recovery. "Markets want to believe that there will be some sort of resolution to this issue, some sort of lasting truce at least, even though the experience of the last 18 months doesn't give a lot of cause for comfort," he said. However, Oliver said weaker Chinese and US economies as well as the US presidential election next year put pressure on both sides to come to an agreement. In currencies, the safe-haven yen weakened, with the dollar rising 0.17 per cent to buy 108.57 yen. The euro was barely changed at $1.1023 and the dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals was off just 0.02 per cent at 98.143. Higher US Treasury yields also illustrated the risk-on tone in the Asian session, with the 10-year yield rising to 1.848 per cent from a US close of 1.815 per cent on Thursday. The policy-sensitive two-year yield rose to 1.6101 per cent from 1.593 per cent on Thursday after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the risk of the U.S. economy facing a dramatic bust is remote. A Reuters poll of more than 100 economists showed that while concerns have eased over a US recession, few see an economic rebound, and most believe a trade truce is unlikely in the coming year. Government borrowing costs in Germany and France also inched up on Friday, but were set for sizeable weekly declines, in contrast to southern European countries that have come under heavy selling pressure again this week. Germany's 10-year Bund yield was at -0.33 per cent off more than one-week lows hit on Thursday. But it is down 8 bps on the week, set for the biggest weekly fall since mid-August. Dutch 10-year bond yields are down 7 bps this week, and French yields are 5 bps lower. Data on Thursday had showed Germany's economy grew just 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, with consumer spending helping the country to avoid a mild contraction and a technical recession of two quarters of economic shrinkage. "In general, there has been risk aversion in recent days and a shift to core bond markets from the periphery," said Daniel Lenz, a rates strategist at DZ Bank. Global sentiment has been buffeted in recent weeks by conflicting assessments of progress in talks between the United States and China aimed at ending their 16-month-long trade war. China's commerce ministry said the two countries are holding "in-depth" discussions on a first phase trade agreement, and that cancelling tariffs is an important condition to reaching a deal. China has also ended a nearly five-year ban on imports of US poultry meat, which the US Trade Representative said would lead to more than $1 billion in annual shipments to China. Those developments followed comments from officials from both countries last week that they had a deal to roll back tariffs, only to have US President Donald Trump deny that any such deal had been agreed to. The new record for the S&P, which gained just 0.08 per cent to 3,096.63, came despite a grim outlook from network gear maker Cisco Systems <CSCO.O> that underlined the impact of trade uncertainty. In commodity markets, US crude prices rebounded after sliding Thursday on rising US crude inventories. US West Texas Intermediate crude was 0.44 per cent higher at $57.02 a barrel. Global benchmark Brent crude added 0.37 per cent to $62.51 per barrel. Gold retreated from gains that had been prompted by trade uncertainty. Spot gold was last trading at $1,463.90 per ounce, down 0.48 per cent. ($1 = 6.9941 Chinese yuan)

Global Markets: US-China trade hopes revive stocks, protests leave scars

Hong Kong violence threatens "One Country, Two Systems", President Xi Jinping said on Thursday as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-government-expected-to-announce-weekend-curfew-report-262029">pro-democracy protests</a> continued to escalate in Chinese-ruled city.

Recent actions by protesters have "seriously challenged the baseline principle of 'one country, two systems'", Xi said&nbsp;at a summit of BRICS countries in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.

Xi also said Beijing "firmly supports" Hong Kong's government and police and that "stopping violence and controlling the chaos while restoring order is currently Hong Kong's most urgent task".

The latest reaction from China comes with violence spiking as pro-democracy protests enter the sixth month, with protesters bringing much of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-students-arm-themselves-for-showdown-amid-talk-of-curfew-262065">Hong Kong to a standstill </a>since Monday.&nbsp;

The protests, originally over a now-suspended extradition bill to mainland China, have plunged Hong Kong into its deepest crisis since its British handover to Beijing in 1997 and pose a major challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The unrest has widened into calls for greater freedom, fuelled by worries about the erosion of rights guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula, adopted after the 1997 handover, such as an independent judiciary and the right to protest.

The protests are already taking a toll on the city's economy and tourism, with the special administrative region on the cusp of its first recession in a decade.

Demonstrators have five demands: withdraw the extradition bill which has been accepted; establish an independent inquiry into the protests and perceived police brutality, stop describing the protests as "rioting", waive charges against those arrested, and resume political reform.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, China's Global Times tabloid, owned by the state-run People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, said on Twitter that the Hong Kong government was expected to announce a weekend curfew.&nbsp;

However, the post was later deleted with Its editor saying that there was "not sufficient" information to back it up. While the Hong Kong government said the rumours were "totally unfounded".

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Hong Kong violence threatens "One Country, Two Systems", President Xi Jinping said on Thursday as the pro-democracy protests continued to escalate in Chinese-ruled city.

Hong Kong violence threatens "One Country, Two Systems", President Xi Jinping said on Thursday as the pro-democracy protests continued to escalate in Chinese-ruled city. Recent actions by protesters have "seriously challenged the baseline principle of 'one country, two systems'", Xi said at a summit of BRICS countries in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia. Xi also said Beijing "firmly supports" Hong Kong's government and police and that "stopping violence and controlling the chaos while restoring order is currently Hong Kong's most urgent task". The latest reaction from China comes with violence spiking as pro-democracy protests enter the sixth month, with protesters bringing much of Hong Kong to a standstill since Monday. The protests, originally over a now-suspended extradition bill to mainland China, have plunged Hong Kong into its deepest crisis since its British handover to Beijing in 1997 and pose a major challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping. The unrest has widened into calls for greater freedom, fuelled by worries about the erosion of rights guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula, adopted after the 1997 handover, such as an independent judiciary and the right to protest. The protests are already taking a toll on the city's economy and tourism, with the special administrative region on the cusp of its first recession in a decade. Demonstrators have five demands: withdraw the extradition bill which has been accepted; establish an independent inquiry into the protests and perceived police brutality, stop describing the protests as "rioting", waive charges against those arrested, and resume political reform. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, China's Global Times tabloid, owned by the state-run People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, said on Twitter that the Hong Kong government was expected to announce a weekend curfew. However, the post was later deleted with Its editor saying that there was "not sufficient" information to back it up. While the Hong Kong government said the rumours were "totally unfounded". (With inputs from agencies)

Beijing 'firmly supports' Hong Kong's government, police, says Chinese President Xi Jinping

Pro-democracy protesters <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-government-expected-to-announce-weekend-curfew-report-262029">paralysed parts of Hong Kong for a fourth day</a> on Thursday, forcing schools to close and blocking highways as students built barricades and stockpiled makeshift weapons, setting the stage for campus showdowns.

China's Global Times tabloid, owned by the state-run People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, briefly said on Twitter that the Hong Kong government was expected to announce a weekend curfew after some of the worst violence in decades in the Chinese-ruled city.

It deleted the post after a short time. Its editor said there was "not sufficient" information to back it up.

Thousands of students hunkered down inside several campuses, surrounded by piles of food, bricks, petrol bombs, arrows with heads wrapped in cladding, catapults and other homemade weapons.

Police said Chinese University, in the New Territories, had become a "weapons factory and an arsenal" with bows and arrows and catapults.

"It is also evident that it has become a manufacturing base for petrol bombs," police said.

Protesters have torched vehicles and buildings, hurled petrol bombs at police stations and trains, dropped debris from bridges on to traffic below and vandalised shopping malls and campuses, raising questions about how and when more than five months of unrest can be brought to an end.

"I am not prepared to fire the arrows unless there’s no other resort," student Cheung, 18, told Reuters. "I am also new in learning how to use arrows. I think arrows can't really hit them but if the police fire live rounds, we will die."

Police said arrows were fired at officers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the morning.

Several universities announced there would be no classes on campuses for the rest of the year.

Baptist University, next to a Chinese People's Liberation Army base in Kowloon Tong, issued an "urgent appeal", telling students to stay away from campus.

"Your safety is so dear to our hearts and to your parents' and friends’ hearts," it said. "Please stay away from harm’s way."

The Global Times' short-lived announcement about a curfew cited unnamed sources. It did not elaborate but, but online rumours have swirled along those lines.

"We don’t want to see a curfew, but we think it will happen sooner or later," Polytechnic University student Alex, 19, told Reuters. "We think it will be twinned with the postponement of the district council elections.”

The elections are due on November&nbsp;24

Police gather

Hundreds of protesters occupied roads in the city's business district, home to some of the world's most expensive real estate, in the middle of the day.

Across the harbour, black-clad protesters and university students maintained their blockades of major roads, including the entrance to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel that links Hong Kong island to the Kowloon area, and a highway between Kowloon and the rural New Territories.

Police fired tear gas near the tunnel early on Thursday to try to clear the protesters. Roads were strewn with bricks and other debris, leading to widespread traffic jams.

Dozens of riot police gathered outside several universities early in the day as students fortified their positions with metal poles, bricks and chairs.

At the Polytechnic University, near the Kowloon entrance of the Cross Harbour tunnel, hundreds of students wearing gas masks readied for confrontation.

Boxes of petrol bombs were placed at vantage points overlooking roads, including the tunnel, which has been blocked since Wednesday evening.

Students also poured litres of cooking oil across the ground in an attempt to thwart police should they try to enter.

Violence has escalated in recent days, with police shooting and wounding one protester at close range and one man described as a "rioter" dousing a man with petrol before setting him on fire.

The man who was shot was in stable condition in hospital. The man who was lit on fire suffered burns to his torso and head, and was in critical condition.

The demonstrations were initially spurred by what many residents see as the stifling by Beijing of freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Anger grew about what many see as police brutality as the protests intensified. Police deny brutality and say they have shown restraint in the face of potentially deadly attacks.

Police said on Thursday they would appoint 100 Correctional Services Department staff, who look after prisons, to reinforce the streets.

“I cannot see how adding 100 special police will help much," democratic lawmaker Tanya Chan told Reuters. "I don't know why the government doesn't adopt measures that can soften the tension rather than intensify conflict.”

China denies interfering and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble. Police deny using excessive force.

Pro-democracy protesters paralysed parts of Hong Kong for a fourth day on Thursday, forcing schools to close and blocking highways as students built barricades and stockpiled makeshift weapons, setting the stage for campus showdowns.

Pro-democracy protesters paralysed parts of Hong Kong for a fourth day on Thursday, forcing schools to close and blocking highways as students built barricades and stockpiled makeshift weapons, setting the stage for campus showdowns. China's Global Times tabloid, owned by the state-run People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, briefly said on Twitter that the Hong Kong government was expected to announce a weekend curfew after some of the worst violence in decades in the Chinese-ruled city. It deleted the post after a short time. Its editor said there was "not sufficient" information to back it up. Thousands of students hunkered down inside several campuses, surrounded by piles of food, bricks, petrol bombs, arrows with heads wrapped in cladding, catapults and other homemade weapons. Police said Chinese University, in the New Territories, had become a "weapons factory and an arsenal" with bows and arrows and catapults. "It is also evident that it has become a manufacturing base for petrol bombs," police said. Protesters have torched vehicles and buildings, hurled petrol bombs at police stations and trains, dropped debris from bridges on to traffic below and vandalised shopping malls and campuses, raising questions about how and when more than five months of unrest can be brought to an end. "I am not prepared to fire the arrows unless there’s no other resort," student Cheung, 18, told Reuters. "I am also new in learning how to use arrows. I think arrows can't really hit them but if the police fire live rounds, we will die." Police said arrows were fired at officers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the morning. Several universities announced there would be no classes on campuses for the rest of the year. Baptist University, next to a Chinese People's Liberation Army base in Kowloon Tong, issued an "urgent appeal", telling students to stay away from campus. "Your safety is so dear to our hearts and to your parents' and friends’ hearts," it said. "Please stay away from harm’s way." The Global Times' short-lived announcement about a curfew cited unnamed sources. It did not elaborate but, but online rumours have swirled along those lines. "We don’t want to see a curfew, but we think it will happen sooner or later," Polytechnic University student Alex, 19, told Reuters. "We think it will be twinned with the postponement of the district council elections.” The elections are due on November 24 Police gather Hundreds of protesters occupied roads in the city's business district, home to some of the world's most expensive real estate, in the middle of the day. Across the harbour, black-clad protesters and university students maintained their blockades of major roads, including the entrance to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel that links Hong Kong island to the Kowloon area, and a highway between Kowloon and the rural New Territories. Police fired tear gas near the tunnel early on Thursday to try to clear the protesters. Roads were strewn with bricks and other debris, leading to widespread traffic jams. Dozens of riot police gathered outside several universities early in the day as students fortified their positions with metal poles, bricks and chairs. At the Polytechnic University, near the Kowloon entrance of the Cross Harbour tunnel, hundreds of students wearing gas masks readied for confrontation. Boxes of petrol bombs were placed at vantage points overlooking roads, including the tunnel, which has been blocked since Wednesday evening. Students also poured litres of cooking oil across the ground in an attempt to thwart police should they try to enter. Violence has escalated in recent days, with police shooting and wounding one protester at close range and one man described as a "rioter" dousing a man with petrol before setting him on fire. The man who was shot was in stable condition in hospital. The man who was lit on fire suffered burns to his torso and head, and was in critical condition. The demonstrations were initially spurred by what many residents see as the stifling by Beijing of freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Anger grew about what many see as police brutality as the protests intensified. Police deny brutality and say they have shown restraint in the face of potentially deadly attacks. Police said on Thursday they would appoint 100 Correctional Services Department staff, who look after prisons, to reinforce the streets. “I cannot see how adding 100 special police will help much," democratic lawmaker Tanya Chan told Reuters. "I don't know why the government doesn't adopt measures that can soften the tension rather than intensify conflict.” China denies interfering and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble. Police deny using excessive force.

Hong Kong students arm themselves for showdown amid talk of curfew

Anti-government protesters dug in at several university campuses across Hong Kong on Wednesday, setting the stage for further confrontations as police said violence in the Chinese-ruled city had reached a "very dangerous and even deadly level".

Protesters - many of them young students - spent much of Wednesday fortifying barricades and stockpiling food and makeshift weapons, as other roving bands of masked protesters disrupted transport and businesses in many areas.

As night fell without more of the large on-campus <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-block-central-hong-kong-streets-as-chaos-grips-city-261782">clashes seen the previous day</a>, protesters manning the barricades and checkpoints around the universities arranged to sleep in shifts to watch for any approaching police.

Demonstrators have been protesting since June about what they see as meddling by Beijing in the freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Allegations of police brutality have fuelled protesters' anger.

China denies interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble.

In the heart of the city's Central business district on Wednesday night, police used an armoured vehicle with an officer firing less-than-lethal rounds from the roof to ram a barricade and disperse protesters who had been blocking traffic.

Nearby, protesters also blocked the entrance to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel that links Hong Kong island to the Kowloon area, according to the city's Transport Department.

Earlier in the day, about 1,000 protesters blocked roads in the Central district at lunchtime. Wearing now-banned face masks and dressed in office wear, they marched and hurled bricks on to roads lined with some of the world's most expensive real estate and luxury flagship stores.

Scores of riot police tried to disperse the crowds near the stock exchange, wrestling some people to the ground and beating others with batons.

At the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where multiple people were injured in clashes between riot police and protesters on Tuesday, police accused protesters of running a "weapons factory" making hundreds of petrol bombs that were thrown at officers.

"A university is supposed to be a breeding ground for future leaders, but it became a battlefield for criminals and rioters," Hong Kong police spokesman Tse Chun-chung told reporters.

&nbsp;Police confirmed that they had evacuated a number of mainland Chinese university students from Hong Kong by boat, while Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said dozens of Taiwanese students were also due to leave the city due to safety concerns.

"The youngsters are really the future of Hong Kong so even though I'm worried about being checked by the police I still want to come and support them," said Cheung, a 30-year-old alumni bringing supplies including food to one campus.

Protesters and police had battled through Tuesday night at university campuses only hours after a senior police officer said the city had been pushed to the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/violence-brings-hong-kong-to-brink-of-total-breakdown-metro-suspends-operations-261570"> "brink of a total breakdown".</a>

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam met with city government officials late on Wednesday, according to public broadcaster RTHK, though the exact details of the meeting were not released.

Hong Kong's Education Bureau said all schools would shut on Thursday. Several universities said they would be introducing online learning and other assessment methods for the remaining weeks of the term.

The flare-ups came after police shot a protester at close range on Monday and police said "rioters" doused a man with petrol and set him on fire in some of the worst violence so far.

"Rioters' violence reached a very dangerous and even deadly level," police spokesman Tse told a media briefing. "Nowhere in Hong Kong is a lawless land."

The turmoil caused delays for thousands of commuters who queued at metro stations across the city early on Wednesday, after some railway services were suspended and roads closed.

"It is very painful to watch my city turn into this. Look at everyone, how angry they are," said Alexandra, a 42-year-old insurance executive who had been trying to get to work.

"We all want to return to normal, but how can the government do that if they don't listen to what Hong Kongers have been asking for."

Police said 142 people had been arrested since Tuesday, bringing the total number of arrests to more than 4,000.

Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said 81 people had been injured since Monday, with two in serious condition.

Police used tear gas and other equipment to clear protests in several areas of the city in the evening.

Many banks and shops in bustling commercial areas shut on Wednesday, while Hong Kong's Jockey Club cancelled its evening races.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines announced on Wednesday it would cancel the Assembly of Presidents meeting scheduled to take place in Hong Kong later in November. The decision comes a week after major back-to-back conferences on air finance, a key growth area for Hong Kong.

Anti-government protesters dug in at several university campuses across Hong Kong on Wednesday, setting the stage for further confrontations as police said violence in the Chinese-ruled city had reached a "very dangerous and even deadly level".

Anti-government protesters dug in at several university campuses across Hong Kong on Wednesday, setting the stage for further confrontations as police said violence in the Chinese-ruled city had reached a "very dangerous and even deadly level". Protesters - many of them young students - spent much of Wednesday fortifying barricades and stockpiling food and makeshift weapons, as other roving bands of masked protesters disrupted transport and businesses in many areas. As night fell without more of the large on-campus clashes seen the previous day, protesters manning the barricades and checkpoints around the universities arranged to sleep in shifts to watch for any approaching police. Demonstrators have been protesting since June about what they see as meddling by Beijing in the freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Allegations of police brutality have fuelled protesters' anger. China denies interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble. In the heart of the city's Central business district on Wednesday night, police used an armoured vehicle with an officer firing less-than-lethal rounds from the roof to ram a barricade and disperse protesters who had been blocking traffic. Nearby, protesters also blocked the entrance to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel that links Hong Kong island to the Kowloon area, according to the city's Transport Department. Earlier in the day, about 1,000 protesters blocked roads in the Central district at lunchtime. Wearing now-banned face masks and dressed in office wear, they marched and hurled bricks on to roads lined with some of the world's most expensive real estate and luxury flagship stores. Scores of riot police tried to disperse the crowds near the stock exchange, wrestling some people to the ground and beating others with batons. At the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where multiple people were injured in clashes between riot police and protesters on Tuesday, police accused protesters of running a "weapons factory" making hundreds of petrol bombs that were thrown at officers. "A university is supposed to be a breeding ground for future leaders, but it became a battlefield for criminals and rioters," Hong Kong police spokesman Tse Chun-chung told reporters. Police confirmed that they had evacuated a number of mainland Chinese university students from Hong Kong by boat, while Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said dozens of Taiwanese students were also due to leave the city due to safety concerns. "The youngsters are really the future of Hong Kong so even though I'm worried about being checked by the police I still want to come and support them," said Cheung, a 30-year-old alumni bringing supplies including food to one campus. Protesters and police had battled through Tuesday night at university campuses only hours after a senior police officer said the city had been pushed to the "brink of a total breakdown". Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam met with city government officials late on Wednesday, according to public broadcaster RTHK, though the exact details of the meeting were not released. Hong Kong's Education Bureau said all schools would shut on Thursday. Several universities said they would be introducing online learning and other assessment methods for the remaining weeks of the term. The flare-ups came after police shot a protester at close range on Monday and police said "rioters" doused a man with petrol and set him on fire in some of the worst violence so far. "Rioters' violence reached a very dangerous and even deadly level," police spokesman Tse told a media briefing. "Nowhere in Hong Kong is a lawless land." The turmoil caused delays for thousands of commuters who queued at metro stations across the city early on Wednesday, after some railway services were suspended and roads closed. "It is very painful to watch my city turn into this. Look at everyone, how angry they are," said Alexandra, a 42-year-old insurance executive who had been trying to get to work. "We all want to return to normal, but how can the government do that if they don't listen to what Hong Kongers have been asking for." Police said 142 people had been arrested since Tuesday, bringing the total number of arrests to more than 4,000. Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said 81 people had been injured since Monday, with two in serious condition. Police used tear gas and other equipment to clear protests in several areas of the city in the evening. Many banks and shops in bustling commercial areas shut on Wednesday, while Hong Kong's Jockey Club cancelled its evening races. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines announced on Wednesday it would cancel the Assembly of Presidents meeting scheduled to take place in Hong Kong later in November. The decision comes a week after major back-to-back conferences on air finance, a key growth area for Hong Kong.

Protesters blockade universities, stockpile makeshift weapons as chaos grips Hong Kong

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - November 13th, 2019

Another day of chaos in Hong Kong; Fires lit near Chinese university. Watch video to know more.

Another day of chaos in Hong Kong; Fires lit near Chinese university

Mainland Chinese students have begun fleeing Hong Kong campuses over security fears, police and university officials said Wednesday, as the city's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-block-central-hong-kong-streets-as-chaos-grips-city-261782">seething political crisis</a> saw some of its worst violence this week.

The most intense clashes on Tuesday occurred at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where pitched battles were fought with the police firing tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets and protesters throwing petrol bombs and bricks, paralysing the campus and the area around it.

A group of mainland students at CUHK attempted to depart the campus Wednesday morning over safety concerns but had to be shuttled away by a police boat because they were unable to leave via obstructed roads.

"The police decided to deploy a police launch to assist the group of students to go to a safe location," the force said.

Images on local outlet Stand News showed dozens of people -- some carrying luggage -- standing next to a vessel with police markings, purportedly fleeing the campus.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology meanwhile arranged a special bus service to ferry students from its campus to a station that offers services to the mainland.

"While we are not aware of any imminent threat to campus safety, we understand some staff and students have the desire to leave campus," the university said in an email to students.

The Hong Kong Baptist University suspended on-campus teaching two weeks before the scheduled end of the semester, switching to either online sessions or postponing classes altogether. It also announced online teaching arrangements for students who choose to return to mainland China.

It was not immediately clear how many mainland Chinese students have left Hong Kong during the latest escalation of violence.

A youth wing of the Communist Party in Shenzhen on Wednesday said it was offering free accommodation at its facilities for mainlanders studying in Hong Kong. Other groups posted similar offers on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform.

'Escape Day'

The protest movement is the biggest challenge to Beijing's rule since Hong Kong was returned by Britain in 1997, fuelled by fears that China is choking the liberties and freedoms the city is meant to have under the handover deal.

More radical demonstrators have targeted businesses and people perceived to be pro-China. In a particularly shocking incident, a man was doused in a flammable liquid and set on fire during an argument with pro-democracy protesters.

Such attacks have been picked up by Chinese state media, which have described the pro-democracy protesters as "rioters".

The nationalist tabloid Global Times described the situation as an "Escape Day".&nbsp;

"It's hard to go to the campus, it's risky," said a Hong Kong University postgraduate student who gave his surname Zhang.

"The atmosphere is pretty intense. I live in (a) student flat and so far it's fine. But I'm afraid if anything happened, you can't leave."

Another mainland student who asked to remain anonymous said she recognised many other students at the West Kowloon high-speed railway station, which connects Hong Kong with Shenzhen and beyond.

"The atmosphere these days... makes me want to leave," she told AFP before departing for the mainland, referring to the "bad mood" the situation had caused among Chinese students.

The only thing that made her feel better was "going to McDonald's".

"I can't stand that," she said. "So I finally left."

Mainland Chinese students have begun fleeing Hong Kong campuses over security fears, police and university officials said Wednesday, as the city's seething political crisis saw some of its worst violence this week.

Mainland Chinese students have begun fleeing Hong Kong campuses over security fears, police and university officials said Wednesday, as the city's seething political crisis saw some of its worst violence this week. The most intense clashes on Tuesday occurred at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where pitched battles were fought with the police firing tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets and protesters throwing petrol bombs and bricks, paralysing the campus and the area around it. A group of mainland students at CUHK attempted to depart the campus Wednesday morning over safety concerns but had to be shuttled away by a police boat because they were unable to leave via obstructed roads. "The police decided to deploy a police launch to assist the group of students to go to a safe location," the force said. Images on local outlet Stand News showed dozens of people -- some carrying luggage -- standing next to a vessel with police markings, purportedly fleeing the campus. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology meanwhile arranged a special bus service to ferry students from its campus to a station that offers services to the mainland. "While we are not aware of any imminent threat to campus safety, we understand some staff and students have the desire to leave campus," the university said in an email to students. The Hong Kong Baptist University suspended on-campus teaching two weeks before the scheduled end of the semester, switching to either online sessions or postponing classes altogether. It also announced online teaching arrangements for students who choose to return to mainland China. It was not immediately clear how many mainland Chinese students have left Hong Kong during the latest escalation of violence. A youth wing of the Communist Party in Shenzhen on Wednesday said it was offering free accommodation at its facilities for mainlanders studying in Hong Kong. Other groups posted similar offers on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform. 'Escape Day' The protest movement is the biggest challenge to Beijing's rule since Hong Kong was returned by Britain in 1997, fuelled by fears that China is choking the liberties and freedoms the city is meant to have under the handover deal. More radical demonstrators have targeted businesses and people perceived to be pro-China. In a particularly shocking incident, a man was doused in a flammable liquid and set on fire during an argument with pro-democracy protesters. Such attacks have been picked up by Chinese state media, which have described the pro-democracy protesters as "rioters". The nationalist tabloid Global Times described the situation as an "Escape Day". "It's hard to go to the campus, it's risky," said a Hong Kong University postgraduate student who gave his surname Zhang. "The atmosphere is pretty intense. I live in (a) student flat and so far it's fine. But I'm afraid if anything happened, you can't leave." Another mainland student who asked to remain anonymous said she recognised many other students at the West Kowloon high-speed railway station, which connects Hong Kong with Shenzhen and beyond. "The atmosphere these days... makes me want to leave," she told AFP before departing for the mainland, referring to the "bad mood" the situation had caused among Chinese students. The only thing that made her feel better was "going to McDonald's". "I can't stand that," she said. "So I finally left."

Mainland China students flee Hong Kong over protest violence fears

Indian markets led by banking and public sector undertakings (PSUs) opened with slight gains as investors awaited the retail inflation data and outcome of cabinet meeting due to be announced later today.

As per the latest trends, BSE Sensex rose 19.6 points or 0.05 per cent at 40,364.71, while NSE Nifty was up 4.95 points or 0.04 per cent at 11,918.4.&nbsp;

"Investors are expecting details about stake sale in some PSUs from today's cabinet meeting," said AK Prabhakar, head of research at IDBI Capital in Mumbai, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

India's industrial output fell at the fastest pace in more than six years in September, which added to the series of indicators that suggest an economic slowdown. Britannia Industries share' rose upto 3.6 per cent after the company posted a higher consolidated net profit for the quarter ending 
September on Monday and was the top gainer on Nifty today.

The shares of Yes Bank shares rose upto 3.15 per cent after a report claiming that Hero Corporate Services chairman was in talks to buy a stake in the lender. Along with Yes Bank, TCS, RIL, HCL Tech, Asian Paints, HUL and HDFC Bank, were other gainers in the Sensex pack, rising up to 2.05 per cent in morning trade.

The Asian markets and Wall Street witnessed a fall amid the deadlock in the US-China trade talks and concerns about escalating unrest in Hong Kong hurt demand for risky assets. The US President Donald Trump on Tuesday dubbed China as a cheater in trade despite seeking a truce that will settle the 18-month trade tussle between the United States and China. The markets in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul were trading up to 1.76 per cent lower due to growing protests in Hong Kong.&nbsp;

On Monday, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-closes-in-the-green-at-40345-nifty-bank-gains-by-12-per-cent-261425">Sensex </a>gained 21.47 points or 0.05 per cent and closed at 40,345.08. Similarly, the Nifty rose 5.30 points, or 0.04 per cent, at 11,913.45. The markets were closed on Tuesday for Guru Nanak Jayanti.&nbsp;

The Indian rupee shed 19 paise (intra-day) against the US dollar to trade at 71.66 in early session on Wednesday.

(with inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

Indian markets led by banking and public sector undertakings (PSUs) opened with slight gains as investors awaited the retail inflation data and outcome of cabinet meeting due to be announced later today.

Indian markets led by banking and public sector undertakings (PSUs) opened with slight gains as investors awaited the retail inflation data and outcome of cabinet meeting due to be announced later today. As per the latest trends, BSE Sensex rose 19.6 points or 0.05 per cent at 40,364.71, while NSE Nifty was up 4.95 points or 0.04 per cent at 11,918.4. "Investors are expecting details about stake sale in some PSUs from today's cabinet meeting," said AK Prabhakar, head of research at IDBI Capital in Mumbai, reported Reuters. India's industrial output fell at the fastest pace in more than six years in September, which added to the series of indicators that suggest an economic slowdown. Britannia Industries share' rose upto 3.6 per cent after the company posted a higher consolidated net profit for the quarter ending September on Monday and was the top gainer on Nifty today. The shares of Yes Bank shares rose upto 3.15 per cent after a report claiming that Hero Corporate Services chairman was in talks to buy a stake in the lender. Along with Yes Bank, TCS, RIL, HCL Tech, Asian Paints, HUL and HDFC Bank, were other gainers in the Sensex pack, rising up to 2.05 per cent in morning trade. The Asian markets and Wall Street witnessed a fall amid the deadlock in the US-China trade talks and concerns about escalating unrest in Hong Kong hurt demand for risky assets. The US President Donald Trump on Tuesday dubbed China as a cheater in trade despite seeking a truce that will settle the 18-month trade tussle between the United States and China. The markets in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul were trading up to 1.76 per cent lower due to growing protests in Hong Kong. On Monday, the Sensex gained 21.47 points or 0.05 per cent and closed at 40,345.08. Similarly, the Nifty rose 5.30 points, or 0.04 per cent, at 11,913.45. The markets were closed on Tuesday for Guru Nanak Jayanti. The Indian rupee shed 19 paise (intra-day) against the US dollar to trade at 71.66 in early session on Wednesday. (with inputs from agencies)

Indian markets steady in early trade ahead of cabinet meeting, inflation figures

Hong Kong Police Fires At Protesters, Targets Journalists While China Refuses To Take Questions.

Gravitas: The Battle Ground That Is  Hong Kong

Hong Kong: A Video Game Lets You Play As A Protester

Gravitas: Now, A game on Hong Kong Protest

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - November 12th, 2019

Hong Kong protests: Carrie Lam condemns Monday's violence. Watch video to know more.

Hong Kong protests: Carrie Lam condemns Monday's violence

Hong Kong police fired tear gas in the heart of the Central financial district and at two university campuses to break up pro-democracy protests as violence was bringing the Chinese-ruled city to what they said was the "brink of total breakdown".

The clashes came a day after police shot a protester at close range and a man was doused with petrol and set on fire in some of the worst violence in the former British colony in decades.

A flash mob of more than 1,000 protesters, many wearing office clothes and face masks, rallied in Central for a second day during lunch hour, blocking roads below some of the city's tallest skyscrapers and most expensive real estate.

After they had dispersed, police fired tear gas at the remaining protesters on old, narrow Pedder Street. Police made more than a dozen arrests, many pinned up on the pavement against the wall of luxury jeweller Tiffany &amp; Co.

Police vans surged into the area, and officers took up positions in a standoff with protesters just an hour or so before office workers were due to start leaving for home.

"Our society has been pushed to the brink of a total breakdown," a police spokesman told a briefing, referring to the last two days of violence.

He said the man set on fire on Monday was still in critical condition and appealed for information on who was responsible.

Police on Monday fired volley after volley of tear gas in Central, where some protesters blocked streets lined with banks and jewellery shops. Most had pulled down their shutters on Tuesday.

Tension eased as the lunch hour ended, but some protesters used a double-decker airport bus to block a key road running alongside the newly reclaimed area of the harbour close to downtown Central.

Police also fired tear gas at City University in Kowloon Tong, beneath the Lion Rock, and at Chinese University on the other side of the mountain, where protesters threw petrol bombs and bricks at police.

Protesters at City University have stockpiled bricks and petrol bombs on the bridges and other approaches and were making small devices with nails, apparently to puncture tyres.

Streets inside and outside the Chinese University campus entrance were littered with bricks, other debris and small street fires as police tackled some protesters to the ground.

A van used as part of a street barricade was set ablaze.

"It's our school"

The university said some people had broken into a storeroom and taken bows, arrows and javelins. All were later retrieved, it said.

"It’s crazy that police have been firing tear gas for more than 20 minutes. If they didn't come in, we wouldn't clash with them. It's our school. We need to protect our home,” Candy, 20, a student, told Reuters.

There was chaos earlier as people thronged metro stations only to stream out again after some train services were suspended.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kongs-carrie-lam-says-violence-exceeded-calls-for-democracy-police-defend-officers-who-shot-at-protesters-261394">Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said</a> protesters were being extremely selfish and hoped that universities and schools would urge students not to take part in the demonstrations.

More than 260 people were arrested on Monday, police said, bringing the total number to more than 3,000 since the protests escalated in June.

Protesters are angry about what they see as police brutality and meddling by Beijing in the freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the territory returned to China in 1997.

China denies interfering and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble.

The United States on Monday <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watching-situation-in-hong-kong-with-grave-concern-us-261489">condemned "unjustified use of deadly force</a>" in Hong Kong and urged police and civilians alike to de-escalate the situation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang urged Britain and the United States not to interfere in what was China's affair.

"The central government firmly supports the (special administrative region) government in implementing policies according to law, supporting the Hong Kong police in law enforcement, maintaining social order and protecting the safety of citizens," he told a briefing in Beijing.

"Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. We urge the United States, United Kingdom and other countries to earnestly respect China’s sovereignty..."

China has a garrison of up to 12,000 troops in Hong Kong who have kept to barracks throughout the unrest, but it has vowed to crush any attempts at independence, a demand for a very small minority of protesters.

Hong Kong police fired tear gas in the heart of the Central financial district and at two university campuses to break up pro-democracy protests as violence was bringing the Chinese-ruled city to what they said was the "brink of total breakdown".

Hong Kong police fired tear gas in the heart of the Central financial district and at two university campuses to break up pro-democracy protests as violence was bringing the Chinese-ruled city to what they said was the "brink of total breakdown". The clashes came a day after police shot a protester at close range and a man was doused with petrol and set on fire in some of the worst violence in the former British colony in decades. A flash mob of more than 1,000 protesters, many wearing office clothes and face masks, rallied in Central for a second day during lunch hour, blocking roads below some of the city's tallest skyscrapers and most expensive real estate. After they had dispersed, police fired tear gas at the remaining protesters on old, narrow Pedder Street. Police made more than a dozen arrests, many pinned up on the pavement against the wall of luxury jeweller Tiffany & Co. Police vans surged into the area, and officers took up positions in a standoff with protesters just an hour or so before office workers were due to start leaving for home. "Our society has been pushed to the brink of a total breakdown," a police spokesman told a briefing, referring to the last two days of violence. He said the man set on fire on Monday was still in critical condition and appealed for information on who was responsible. Police on Monday fired volley after volley of tear gas in Central, where some protesters blocked streets lined with banks and jewellery shops. Most had pulled down their shutters on Tuesday. Tension eased as the lunch hour ended, but some protesters used a double-decker airport bus to block a key road running alongside the newly reclaimed area of the harbour close to downtown Central. Police also fired tear gas at City University in Kowloon Tong, beneath the Lion Rock, and at Chinese University on the other side of the mountain, where protesters threw petrol bombs and bricks at police. Protesters at City University have stockpiled bricks and petrol bombs on the bridges and other approaches and were making small devices with nails, apparently to puncture tyres. Streets inside and outside the Chinese University campus entrance were littered with bricks, other debris and small street fires as police tackled some protesters to the ground. A van used as part of a street barricade was set ablaze. "It's our school" The university said some people had broken into a storeroom and taken bows, arrows and javelins. All were later retrieved, it said. "It’s crazy that police have been firing tear gas for more than 20 minutes. If they didn't come in, we wouldn't clash with them. It's our school. We need to protect our home,” Candy, 20, a student, told Reuters. There was chaos earlier as people thronged metro stations only to stream out again after some train services were suspended. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said protesters were being extremely selfish and hoped that universities and schools would urge students not to take part in the demonstrations. More than 260 people were arrested on Monday, police said, bringing the total number to more than 3,000 since the protests escalated in June. Protesters are angry about what they see as police brutality and meddling by Beijing in the freedoms guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the territory returned to China in 1997. China denies interfering and has blamed Western countries, including Britain and the United States, for stirring up trouble. The United States on Monday condemned "unjustified use of deadly force" in Hong Kong and urged police and civilians alike to de-escalate the situation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang urged Britain and the United States not to interfere in what was China's affair. "The central government firmly supports the (special administrative region) government in implementing policies according to law, supporting the Hong Kong police in law enforcement, maintaining social order and protecting the safety of citizens," he told a briefing in Beijing. "Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. We urge the United States, United Kingdom and other countries to earnestly respect China’s sovereignty..." China has a garrison of up to 12,000 troops in Hong Kong who have kept to barracks throughout the unrest, but it has vowed to crush any attempts at independence, a demand for a very small minority of protesters.

Violence brings Hong Kong to 'brink of total breakdown', metro suspends operations

Police fire tear gas as protest flare up across Hong Kong. Watch video to know more.

Police fire tear gas as protest flare up across Hong Kong

Hong Kong is witnessing a violent protest that results- Damage of life and property. The violent clash erupts between Protesters and police early this morning and while covering the ground zero, WION's correspondent gets hit by tear gas.

Hong Kong Protests: WION's correspondent gets hit by tear gas

Hong Kong protesters vandalise malls, subway station & schools. Watch video to know more.

Hong Kong protesters vandalise malls, subway station & schools

Hong Kong protests turn violent; Police Shoot Protester Amid Clashes. Watch video to know more,

Hong Kong protests turn violent; Police Shoot Protester Amid Clashes

Hong Kong police opened fire and hit at least one protester on Monday, media reported, as chaos erupted across the city a day after officers fired tear gas to break up demonstrations that are entering their sixth month.

Hong Kong police opened fire and hit at least one protester on Monday, media reported, as chaos erupted across the city a day after officers fired tear gas to break up demonstrations that are entering their sixth month. Police fired live rounds at protesters on the eastern side of Hong Kong island, Cable TV and other Hong Kong media reported. Cable TV said one protester was wounded when police opened fire. Video footage showed a protester lying in a pool of blood with his eyes wide open. Police also pepper-sprayed and subdued a woman nearby as plastic crates were thrown at officers, the video shared on social media showed. Reuters could not immediately authenticate the footage. Police said in a statement radical protesters had set up barricades at multiple locations across the city and warned the demonstrators to "stop their illegal acts immediately". They did not comment immediately on the apparent shooting. Services on some train and subway lines were disrupted early on Monday, with riot police deployed near stations and shopping malls. Many universities cancelled classes on Monday and there were long traffic jams in some areas. Activists blocked roads and trashed shopping malls across Hong Kong's New Territories and Kowloon peninsula on Sunday during a 24th straight weekend of anti-government unrest. The latest violence comes after a student died in hospital last week following a high fall as protesters were being dispersed by police. Protesters are angry about what they see as police brutality and meddling by Beijing in the former British colony's freedoms, guaranteed by the "one country, two systems" formula put in place when the territory returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong police open fire, wounding protester, as chaos erupts

Hong Kong is witnessing a violent protest that results- Damage of life and property. The violent clash erupts between Protesters and police early this morning and while covering the ground zero, WION's correspondent gets hit by tear gas. In WION Dispatch, let's listen to the WION's correspondent Grace Lee from directly from Hong Kong as she shares the real-time experience of the situation during the protests.

Hong Kong: Police defends shooting protesters, WION's correspondent shares the real-time experience

Asian shares sank on Monday, the safe-haven yen rose and gold jumped as fresh violence broke out in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-protests-turn-violent-police-shoot-protester-amid-clashes-261252">Hong Kong</a>, while uncertainty still remained over whether the United States and China could end their damaging trade war.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index led the losses in Asia, down more than 2 per cent, after police fired live rounds at protestors on the eastern side of Hong Kong island. Cable TV and other Hong Kong media reported at least one protester being wounded. Video footage showed a protester lying in a pool of blood.

Chinese shares too faltered with the blue-chip CSI300 index down 1.3 per cent. South Korea's KOSPI lost 0.4 per cent.

Japan's Nikkei gave up early gains to drift away from a recent 13-month high after data showed the country's core machinery orders fell for a third straight month.

Australian shares bucked the downbeat trend, rising 0.55 per cent&nbsp;to a two-week high.

That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down 0.5 per cent.

"The<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-us-agree-tariff-rollback-if-phase-one-trade-deal-is-completed-260641"> China-US&nbsp;trade war</a> and the Hong Kong protest are combining to cast a negative pall on Asian markets today," said James McGlew, analyst at stockbroking firm Argonaut.

"Hong Kong protests have been dragging on for a while and the view from the financial world is that it's really starting to bite now. The further this drags on it's certainly going to be very negative."

In Asian hours on Monday, E-minis for the S&amp;P500 were 0.25 per cent&nbsp;lower indicating a weak open later in the day.

US&nbsp;bond markets are closed on Monday, but currency and equity markets are open.

Gold, which rises during times of uncertainty, rebounded from a three-month low touched on Friday to be last up 0.3 per cent&nbsp;at $1,462.11 an ounce.

In currencies, the Japanese yen gained on the dollar to 109.01 while the Australian dollar, a liquid gauge for risk, was off slightly at $0.6853.

The dollar index was a touch softer at 98.33 while the euro ticked up to $1.1022.

Market attention was also on the US-China trade talks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-faces-perilous-test-as-impeachment-hearings-open-261230">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump </a>told reporters on Saturday that talks with China had moved more slowly than he would have liked, but added that Beijing wanted a deal more than he did.

That was a more upbeat tone than just a few days earlier when he had stressed that the White House would not agree to a full rollback of existing tariffs, remarks that hit stock prices and the dollar.

"Despite his bluster that 'China wants a trade deal more than I do', markets sense that Trump is likely quite keen to call a truce on what is becoming a serious U.S. economic risk heading into the 2020 election year," said David Bassanese, Sydney-based economist at Betashares.

By the close of Wall Street on Friday, optimism had returned to the market as investors bet that Washington needs a deal and it is in the interest of China, too. All three major US&nbsp;indexes eked out record closing highs.

The Dow inched up while the S&amp;P 500 climbed 0.3 per cent&nbsp;and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.5 per cent. The record closing high by the S&amp;P 500 was the fourth in six sessions.

"It will be the US-China trade talks that will continue to dictate the daily swings in sentiment this week," said Jeffrey Halley, senior analyst at OANDA.

Halley noted the negotiations were "starting to drag on in a disturbingly Brexit-like manner," referring to Britain's divorce deal with the European Union which is still up in the air almost three years after the country voted to leave the bloc.

US&nbsp;officials said a lot of work remained to be done when Trump announced the outlines of an interim deal last month, and Beijing has since pushed back on US&nbsp;demands for big agricultural purchases, among other issues.

Analysts said the outlook for equities was highly dependent on US&nbsp;economic data as a US-China trade agreement would help bolster manufacturing and industrial sectors.

"The Hong Kong protests have seen a knee-jerk rotation out of risk positioning," OANDA's Halley said. "The effects are more likely to be passing than permanent...as long as the trade talks stay on target."

Data on October US&nbsp;industrial production and retail sales, along with the National Federation of Independent Business's monthly small business survey, are scheduled for release this week.

In commodities, benchmark Brent crude fell 57 cents to $61.94 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slipped 48 cents to $56.76 a barrel.

Asian shares sank on Monday, the safe-haven yen rose and gold jumped as fresh violence broke out in Hong Kong, while uncertainty still remained over whether the United States and China could end their damaging trade war.

Asian shares sank on Monday, the safe-haven yen rose and gold jumped as fresh violence broke out in Hong Kong, while uncertainty still remained over whether the United States and China could end their damaging trade war. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index led the losses in Asia, down more than 2 per cent, after police fired live rounds at protestors on the eastern side of Hong Kong island. Cable TV and other Hong Kong media reported at least one protester being wounded. Video footage showed a protester lying in a pool of blood. Chinese shares too faltered with the blue-chip CSI300 index down 1.3 per cent. South Korea's KOSPI lost 0.4 per cent. Japan's Nikkei gave up early gains to drift away from a recent 13-month high after data showed the country's core machinery orders fell for a third straight month. Australian shares bucked the downbeat trend, rising 0.55 per cent to a two-week high. That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down 0.5 per cent. "The China-US trade war and the Hong Kong protest are combining to cast a negative pall on Asian markets today," said James McGlew, analyst at stockbroking firm Argonaut. "Hong Kong protests have been dragging on for a while and the view from the financial world is that it's really starting to bite now. The further this drags on it's certainly going to be very negative." In Asian hours on Monday, E-minis for the S&P500 were 0.25 per cent lower indicating a weak open later in the day. US bond markets are closed on Monday, but currency and equity markets are open. Gold, which rises during times of uncertainty, rebounded from a three-month low touched on Friday to be last up 0.3 per cent at $1,462.11 an ounce. In currencies, the Japanese yen gained on the dollar to 109.01 while the Australian dollar, a liquid gauge for risk, was off slightly at $0.6853. The dollar index was a touch softer at 98.33 while the euro ticked up to $1.1022. Market attention was also on the US-China trade talks. US President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday that talks with China had moved more slowly than he would have liked, but added that Beijing wanted a deal more than he did. That was a more upbeat tone than just a few days earlier when he had stressed that the White House would not agree to a full rollback of existing tariffs, remarks that hit stock prices and the dollar. "Despite his bluster that 'China wants a trade deal more than I do', markets sense that Trump is likely quite keen to call a truce on what is becoming a serious U.S. economic risk heading into the 2020 election year," said David Bassanese, Sydney-based economist at Betashares. By the close of Wall Street on Friday, optimism had returned to the market as investors bet that Washington needs a deal and it is in the interest of China, too. All three major US indexes eked out record closing highs. The Dow inched up while the S&P 500 climbed 0.3 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.5 per cent. The record closing high by the S&P 500 was the fourth in six sessions. "It will be the US-China trade talks that will continue to dictate the daily swings in sentiment this week," said Jeffrey Halley, senior analyst at OANDA. Halley noted the negotiations were "starting to drag on in a disturbingly Brexit-like manner," referring to Britain's divorce deal with the European Union which is still up in the air almost three years after the country voted to leave the bloc. US officials said a lot of work remained to be done when Trump announced the outlines of an interim deal last month, and Beijing has since pushed back on US demands for big agricultural purchases, among other issues. Analysts said the outlook for equities was highly dependent on US economic data as a US-China trade agreement would help bolster manufacturing and industrial sectors. "The Hong Kong protests have seen a knee-jerk rotation out of risk positioning," OANDA's Halley said. "The effects are more likely to be passing than permanent...as long as the trade talks stay on target." Data on October US industrial production and retail sales, along with the National Federation of Independent Business's monthly small business survey, are scheduled for release this week. In commodities, benchmark Brent crude fell 57 cents to $61.94 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slipped 48 cents to $56.76 a barrel.

Global Markets: Asian shares a sea of red as Hong Kong chaos hits sentiment

Tens of thousands of Hong Kongers packed into a park Saturday night to mourn a student who died during recent clashes as police arrested a group of pro-democracy lawmakers, deepening the city's political crisis.

The international finance hub has been upended by five months of huge and increasingly violent pro-democracy protests, but Beijing has refused to give in to most of the movement's demands.

Tensions have soared since the death on Friday of Alex Chow, 22, who succumbed to head injuries sustained during a fall as police skirmished with demonstrators inside a car park last weekend.

The huge rally -- one of the few in recent months to obtain police approval -- means Hong Kong has witnessed 24 weekends of protest in what has become the most profound challenge to Beijing's rule since the 1997 handover.

Many at the peaceful and sombre rally wore black.

"I want an independent inquiry because that proves Hong Kong is still a place with rule of law," a 35-year-old woman, who gave her surname Wong, told AFP, echoing the movement's core demand for an investigation into police tactics.

Wong, who said she moved to Hong Kong from the mainland three years ago, said she also wanted to see less confrontational tactics from hardcore protesters.

"I think non-violent ways can also win," she said.

Lawmaker arrests

The rally came after police brought charges against at least seven lawmakers who now face up to a year in jail if convicted.

Three were arrested overnight, three attended appointments on Saturday evening to be booked, and one refused to appear.

The charges relate to chaotic scenes that broke out within a legislative committee in May as pro-democracy lawmakers tried to stop a controversial bill being discussed that would allow extraditions to authoritarian mainland China.

At the time, city leader Carrie Lam was fast-tracking the bill through the legislature, a move that ignited record-breaking street protests in which millions marched.

"The protests that have been going on for five months are yet to finish but the government is already launching massive arrests of pro-democracy legislators in collaboration with the police," the lawmakers said in a joint statement.&nbsp;

Hong Kong's legislature is quasi-democratic, with half the seats popularly elected and the rest chosen by largely pro-Beijing committees, ensuring the chamber remains stacked with government loyalists.

Opposition to the government comes in the form of a small band of pro-democracy lawmakers who win their seats in local elections.

The lack of fully free elections -- and especially the fact that the city's leader is appointed by a pro-Beijing committee -- has fuelled years of protests that have culminated in the latest unrest.

Chow's death has only intensified the tinderbox atmosphere in what has become a deeply polarised city, with violence escalating on both sides of the ideological divide. &nbsp;

Although the precise chain of events leading to his fall is unclear and disputed, protesters have made alleged police brutality one of their movement's rallying cries and have seized on the death.

Police have repeatedly denied any allegations of wrongdoing in relation to Chow's death.

Vigils on Friday night saw large crowds and frequent clashes with police in multiple neighbourhoods, including one officer firing a live warning shot.

Upcoming local elections

The city is holding district council elections on 24 November with the pro-Beijing camp bracing for heavy defeats.

Since this summer's pro-democracy protests kicked off, voter registration has soared and the pro-democracy camp is fielding candidates in every constituency for the first time.

But there are also concerns the elections could be called off given the spiralling violence.

On Wednesday, one of the city's most stridently pro-Beijing politicians was wounded in a knife attack by a man who pretended to be a supporter.&nbsp;

That assault came three days after a Mandarin-speaking man shouting pro-Beijing slogans knifed at least three pro-democracy protesters and bit off the ear of a local district councillor.

Pro-democracy lawmakers called for demonstrators not to give the government an excuse to cancel the elections because of the violence.

"The district council election is a de facto referendum, in which all Hong Kong people can respond to the social problems, the unjust governance and the police brutality triggered by the extradition bill," lawmaker Tanya Chan said on Saturday.

But further unrest seems likely given that the protest movement is largely organised online by activists who favour confrontations with the police who are themselves responding with increasingly hardcore tactics as each month

Tens of thousands of Hong Kongers packed into a park Saturday night to mourn a student who died during recent clashes as police arrested a group of pro-democracy lawmakers, deepening the city's political crisis.

Tens of thousands of Hong Kongers packed into a park Saturday night to mourn a student who died during recent clashes as police arrested a group of pro-democracy lawmakers, deepening the city's political crisis. The international finance hub has been upended by five months of huge and increasingly violent pro-democracy protests, but Beijing has refused to give in to most of the movement's demands. Tensions have soared since the death on Friday of Alex Chow, 22, who succumbed to head injuries sustained during a fall as police skirmished with demonstrators inside a car park last weekend. The huge rally -- one of the few in recent months to obtain police approval -- means Hong Kong has witnessed 24 weekends of protest in what has become the most profound challenge to Beijing's rule since the 1997 handover. Many at the peaceful and sombre rally wore black. "I want an independent inquiry because that proves Hong Kong is still a place with rule of law," a 35-year-old woman, who gave her surname Wong, told AFP, echoing the movement's core demand for an investigation into police tactics. Wong, who said she moved to Hong Kong from the mainland three years ago, said she also wanted to see less confrontational tactics from hardcore protesters. "I think non-violent ways can also win," she said. Lawmaker arrests The rally came after police brought charges against at least seven lawmakers who now face up to a year in jail if convicted. Three were arrested overnight, three attended appointments on Saturday evening to be booked, and one refused to appear. The charges relate to chaotic scenes that broke out within a legislative committee in May as pro-democracy lawmakers tried to stop a controversial bill being discussed that would allow extraditions to authoritarian mainland China. At the time, city leader Carrie Lam was fast-tracking the bill through the legislature, a move that ignited record-breaking street protests in which millions marched. "The protests that have been going on for five months are yet to finish but the government is already launching massive arrests of pro-democracy legislators in collaboration with the police," the lawmakers said in a joint statement. Hong Kong's legislature is quasi-democratic, with half the seats popularly elected and the rest chosen by largely pro-Beijing committees, ensuring the chamber remains stacked with government loyalists. Opposition to the government comes in the form of a small band of pro-democracy lawmakers who win their seats in local elections. The lack of fully free elections -- and especially the fact that the city's leader is appointed by a pro-Beijing committee -- has fuelled years of protests that have culminated in the latest unrest. Chow's death has only intensified the tinderbox atmosphere in what has become a deeply polarised city, with violence escalating on both sides of the ideological divide. Although the precise chain of events leading to his fall is unclear and disputed, protesters have made alleged police brutality one of their movement's rallying cries and have seized on the death. Police have repeatedly denied any allegations of wrongdoing in relation to Chow's death. Vigils on Friday night saw large crowds and frequent clashes with police in multiple neighbourhoods, including one officer firing a live warning shot. Upcoming local elections The city is holding district council elections on 24 November with the pro-Beijing camp bracing for heavy defeats. Since this summer's pro-democracy protests kicked off, voter registration has soared and the pro-democracy camp is fielding candidates in every constituency for the first time. But there are also concerns the elections could be called off given the spiralling violence. On Wednesday, one of the city's most stridently pro-Beijing politicians was wounded in a knife attack by a man who pretended to be a supporter. That assault came three days after a Mandarin-speaking man shouting pro-Beijing slogans knifed at least three pro-democracy protesters and bit off the ear of a local district councillor. Pro-democracy lawmakers called for demonstrators not to give the government an excuse to cancel the elections because of the violence. "The district council election is a de facto referendum, in which all Hong Kong people can respond to the social problems, the unjust governance and the police brutality triggered by the extradition bill," lawmaker Tanya Chan said on Saturday. But further unrest seems likely given that the protest movement is largely organised online by activists who favour confrontations with the police who are themselves responding with increasingly hardcore tactics as each month

Huge Hong Kong rally after student dies and lawmakers arrested

Hong Kong police fired tear gas to break up pro-democracy protesters in the western district of Tsuen Wan on Sunday as violence broke out in the New Territories on the 24th straight weekend of unrest.

Protesters vandalised a train station in the central new town of Sha Tin a day after burning plastic barriers in Tsuen Wan, just two weeks before planned district council elections, the lowest tier of voting in the Chinese-ruled city.

Now TV showed pictures of a huge red welt on the upper arm of one of its reporters who said she had been hit by a tear gas canister in Tsuen Wan.

The rail station was closed in Sha Tin on a day of planned shopping mall protests throughout the territory. Shopping districts across the harbour on the main island were quiet.

Last weekend, anti-government protesters crowded into a shopping mall when a man slashed people with a knife and bit off part of a politician's ear.

The protesters are furious at what they see as police brutality and meddling by Beijing in the former British colony's freedoms, guaranteed by the "one country, two systems" formula in place since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

China denies interfering in Hong Kong and has blamed Western countries for stirring up trouble.

Thousands of people gathered on Saturday night at a vigil for "martyrs", after a student died in hospital this week following a high fall.

Though the vigil ended peacefully, many attendees called for revenge after the student's death from injuries sustained during a protest.

Seven pro-democracy city lawmakers have been detained or face arrest and are due to appear in court on Monday on charges of obstructing a May meeting of the local assembly, police and several of the lawmakers said.

"We believe that the government together with the police, as well as the pro-establishment camp, they are trying to escalate the anger of Hong Kong people in order to cancel or even to postpone the upcoming district council election," Tanya Chan, a pro-democracy lawmaker, told reporters on Saturday.

One of the arrested lawmakers, Gary Fan, said the detentions were the result of "political prosecutions and judicial crackdowns" by Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam.

The elections are due on November&nbsp;24

Protesters have also called for a general strike on Monday and for people to block public transport, although such calls in the past have often come to nothing.

Protesters have thrown petrol bombs and rocks at police who have responded with tear gas, pepper spray, water cannon, rubber bullets and several rounds of live ammunition. They deny using excessive force.

Hong Kong police fired tear gas to break up pro-democracy protesters in the western district of Tsuen Wan on Sunday as violence broke out in the New Territories on the 24th straight weekend of unrest.

Hong Kong police fired tear gas to break up pro-democracy protesters in the western district of Tsuen Wan on Sunday as violence broke out in the New Territories on the 24th straight weekend of unrest. Protesters vandalised a train station in the central new town of Sha Tin a day after burning plastic barriers in Tsuen Wan, just two weeks before planned district council elections, the lowest tier of voting in the Chinese-ruled city. Now TV showed pictures of a huge red welt on the upper arm of one of its reporters who said she had been hit by a tear gas canister in Tsuen Wan. The rail station was closed in Sha Tin on a day of planned shopping mall protests throughout the territory. Shopping districts across the harbour on the main island were quiet. Last weekend, anti-government protesters crowded into a shopping mall when a man slashed people with a knife and bit off part of a politician's ear. The protesters are furious at what they see as police brutality and meddling by Beijing in the former British colony's freedoms, guaranteed by the "one country, two systems" formula in place since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. China denies interfering in Hong Kong and has blamed Western countries for stirring up trouble. Thousands of people gathered on Saturday night at a vigil for "martyrs", after a student died in hospital this week following a high fall. Though the vigil ended peacefully, many attendees called for revenge after the student's death from injuries sustained during a protest. Seven pro-democracy city lawmakers have been detained or face arrest and are due to appear in court on Monday on charges of obstructing a May meeting of the local assembly, police and several of the lawmakers said. "We believe that the government together with the police, as well as the pro-establishment camp, they are trying to escalate the anger of Hong Kong people in order to cancel or even to postpone the upcoming district council election," Tanya Chan, a pro-democracy lawmaker, told reporters on Saturday. One of the arrested lawmakers, Gary Fan, said the detentions were the result of "political prosecutions and judicial crackdowns" by Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam. The elections are due on November 24 Protesters have also called for a general strike on Monday and for people to block public transport, although such calls in the past have often come to nothing. Protesters have thrown petrol bombs and rocks at police who have responded with tear gas, pepper spray, water cannon, rubber bullets and several rounds of live ammunition. They deny using excessive force.

Hong Kong police fire tear gas on 24th weekend of unrest

Hong Kong police said Saturday they have arrested three pro-democracy lawmakers over a brawl in parliament, deepening the city's crisis a day after the death of a student sent tensions soaring.

The international finance hub has been upended by five months of huge and increasingly violent pro-democracy protests but Beijing has refused to give in to most of the movement's demands.

With the city bracing for a 24th consecutive weekend of rallies, police brought charges against three key pro-democracy lawmakers while four other lawmakers said they had been ordered to attend a police station later Saturday to be booked.&nbsp;

They face up to a year in jail if convicted.&nbsp;

The charges relate to chaotic scenes that broke out within a legislative committee in May as pro-democracy lawmakers tried to stop a controversial bill being discussed that would allow extraditions to authoritarian mainland China.&nbsp;

At the time, city leader Carrie Lam was fast-tracking the bill through the legislature, a move that went on to ignite record-breaking street protests in which millions marched.

"The protests that have been going on for five months are yet to finish but the government is already launching massive arrests of pro-democracy legislators in collaboration with the police," the lawmakers said in a joint statement.&nbsp;

- 'Right here waiting' -&nbsp; 
One of the lawmakers said he would refuse to turn himself in. &nbsp;

"If you are accusing me of violating laws in the Legislative Council, come here and arrest me. I will be right here waiting," Lam Cheuk-ting told reporters at a joint press conference.

Hong Kong's legislature is quasi-democratic, with half the seats popularly elected and the rest chosen by largely pro-Beijing committees, ensuring the chamber remains stacked with government loyalists.

Opposition to the government comes in the form of a small band of pro-democracy lawmakers who win their seats in local elections.

The lack of fully free elections -- and especially the fact that the city's leader is appointed by a pro-Beijing committee -- has fuelled years of protests that have culminated in the latest unrest.

The tinderbox atmosphere intensified on Friday after 22-year-old student Alex Chow died from a fall during recent clashes with police.

Although the precise chain of events leading to his fall are unclear and disputed, protesters have made alleged police brutality one of their movement's rallying cries and have seized on the death.

Thousands attended candlelight vigils on Friday evening while police fought cat and mouse battles with flashmob protesters who blocked roads, burned barricades and vandalised subway station entrances in multiple neighbourhoods.&nbsp;

In one incident, an officer fired a live warning shot as his unit faced off with protesters throwing projectiles.

Upcoming local elections

The city is holding district council elections on 24 November with the pro-Beijing camp bracing for heavy defeats.

Since this summer's pro-democracy protests kicked off, voter registration has soared and the pro-democracy camp is fielding candidates in every constituency for the first time.

But there are also concerns the elections could be called off given the spiralling violence.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, one of the city's most stridently pro-Beijing politicians was wounded in a knife attack by a man who pretended to be a supporter.&nbsp;

That assault came three days after a Mandarin-speaking man shouting pro-Beijing slogans knifed at least three pro-democracy protesters and bit off the ear of a local district councillor.

Pro-democracy lawmakers called for protesters not to give the government an excuse to cancel the elections because of the violence.&nbsp;

"The district council election is a de facto referendum, in which all Hong Kong people can respond to the social problems, the unjust governance and the police brutality triggered by the extradition bill," lawmaker Tanya Chan said on Saturday.

But further unrest seems likely given that the protest movement is largely organised online by activists who favour confrontations with the police who are themselves responding with increasingly hardcore tactics as each month passes.&nbsp;

Police have repeatedly denied any allegations of wrongdoing in relation to Chow's death.

Rallies and prayer vigils are expected on Saturday and Sunday evening and there have been calls for a general strike on Monday.

Hong Kong police said Saturday they have arrested three pro-democracy lawmakers over a brawl in parliament, deepening the city's crisis a day after the death of a student sent tensions soaring.

Hong Kong police said Saturday they have arrested three pro-democracy lawmakers over a brawl in parliament, deepening the city's crisis a day after the death of a student sent tensions soaring. The international finance hub has been upended by five months of huge and increasingly violent pro-democracy protests but Beijing has refused to give in to most of the movement's demands. With the city bracing for a 24th consecutive weekend of rallies, police brought charges against three key pro-democracy lawmakers while four other lawmakers said they had been ordered to attend a police station later Saturday to be booked. They face up to a year in jail if convicted. The charges relate to chaotic scenes that broke out within a legislative committee in May as pro-democracy lawmakers tried to stop a controversial bill being discussed that would allow extraditions to authoritarian mainland China. At the time, city leader Carrie Lam was fast-tracking the bill through the legislature, a move that went on to ignite record-breaking street protests in which millions marched. "The protests that have been going on for five months are yet to finish but the government is already launching massive arrests of pro-democracy legislators in collaboration with the police," the lawmakers said in a joint statement. - 'Right here waiting' - One of the lawmakers said he would refuse to turn himself in. "If you are accusing me of violating laws in the Legislative Council, come here and arrest me. I will be right here waiting," Lam Cheuk-ting told reporters at a joint press conference. Hong Kong's legislature is quasi-democratic, with half the seats popularly elected and the rest chosen by largely pro-Beijing committees, ensuring the chamber remains stacked with government loyalists. Opposition to the government comes in the form of a small band of pro-democracy lawmakers who win their seats in local elections. The lack of fully free elections -- and especially the fact that the city's leader is appointed by a pro-Beijing committee -- has fuelled years of protests that have culminated in the latest unrest. The tinderbox atmosphere intensified on Friday after 22-year-old student Alex Chow died from a fall during recent clashes with police. Although the precise chain of events leading to his fall are unclear and disputed, protesters have made alleged police brutality one of their movement's rallying cries and have seized on the death. Thousands attended candlelight vigils on Friday evening while police fought cat and mouse battles with flashmob protesters who blocked roads, burned barricades and vandalised subway station entrances in multiple neighbourhoods. In one incident, an officer fired a live warning shot as his unit faced off with protesters throwing projectiles. Upcoming local elections The city is holding district council elections on 24 November with the pro-Beijing camp bracing for heavy defeats. Since this summer's pro-democracy protests kicked off, voter registration has soared and the pro-democracy camp is fielding candidates in every constituency for the first time. But there are also concerns the elections could be called off given the spiralling violence. On Wednesday, one of the city's most stridently pro-Beijing politicians was wounded in a knife attack by a man who pretended to be a supporter. That assault came three days after a Mandarin-speaking man shouting pro-Beijing slogans knifed at least three pro-democracy protesters and bit off the ear of a local district councillor. Pro-democracy lawmakers called for protesters not to give the government an excuse to cancel the elections because of the violence. "The district council election is a de facto referendum, in which all Hong Kong people can respond to the social problems, the unjust governance and the police brutality triggered by the extradition bill," lawmaker Tanya Chan said on Saturday. But further unrest seems likely given that the protest movement is largely organised online by activists who favour confrontations with the police who are themselves responding with increasingly hardcore tactics as each month passes. Police have repeatedly denied any allegations of wrongdoing in relation to Chow's death. Rallies and prayer vigils are expected on Saturday and Sunday evening and there have been calls for a general strike on Monday.

Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers arrested as tensions soar

A student at a Hong Kong university who fell during protests at the weekend died early on Friday (November 8) morning, marking the first student death during the anti-government demonstrations that have roiled the city and set the stage for fresh unrest.

Hong Kong Protest: First Student death in Protest

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