Chaos and violence descend again on the streets of Hong Kong as aggressive police tactics fail to stop radical protesters

Office of Xinhua News Agency in Wan Chai attacked for the first time, with its glass doors and windows smashed

More than 200 arrested as MTR stations and businesses with mainland connections again face vandalism and arson

Reading Time:4 minutes

Police march down a road in Wan Chai to disperse protesters as a barricade burns. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 12:02am, 3 Nov 2019Updated: 10:48am, 3 Nov 2019

The first half of the weekend since the government’s controversial decision to disqualify populist candidate Joshua Wong Chi-fung from running in the district council elections ended in chaos and violence.

A change of tactics by police and the government failed to break the stalemate as Hong Kong’s festering social unrest entered its 22nd week with no solution in sight.

Once again, police battled protesters on the bustling streets of Hong Kong. The clashes took place mainly in the densely populated commercial districts of Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Central, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui.

Police’s use of water cannons, tear gas, pepper spray and batons were met with flaming barricades and petrol bombs from protesters as the two sides played cat-and-mouse throughout the night.

More than 200 people were arrested on Saturday for protest-related offences including unlawful assembly and violating the mask ban, police said at 1am on Sunday.

As of 7.30am on Sunday, 54 people were injured and taken to hospital. A man in Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei was in a serious condition, 23 were stable and the remaining 30 have been discharged.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x