“Foreign businessmen in Hong Kong have started to ask themselves if they should move their families out of Hong Kong, and if they need to have other plans for their business,” he said.

Chan struck a more optimistic note in a separate blog post on Sunday, saying the economy had rebounded significantly after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) crisis of 2003, as well as after the financial tsunamis of 1998 and 2008.

In his budget speech last Wednesday, Chan forecast that gross domestic product would range from a 1.5 per cent decline to growth of just 0.5 per cent. He offered cash handouts, tax breaks and a raft of subsidies in a HK$120 billion (US$15.4 billion) package aimed at easing the financial burden on citizens and injecting new life into the ailing economy.

No protesters killed, government says, slamming ‘malicious’ rumours

Police arrested 71 men and 44 women, aged 15 to 54, over Saturday’s chaos on suspicion of taking part in unauthorised assemblies, possession of offensive weapons and instruments fit for unlawful purpose, arson, attacking police officers and obstructing them in the execution of their duties.

Among those arrested for unauthorised assembly was an off-duty auxiliary police officer.

The 23-year-old teacher joined the force two years ago and was based in Kwun Tong, according to a police source. A police spokesman said any officer committing illegal acts would be handled seriously.

Police on Sunday also reported an early morning petrol bomb attack on the South Kwai Chung Jockey Club General Outpatient Clinic, which the government condemned as “malicious behaviour” that “caused innocent patients to suffer”.

The clinic is one of 18 designated medical facilities for screening patients with minor respiratory symptoms of infection, which protesters do not want in their backyard.

Dozens protested outside three other clinics in Shau Kei Wan, Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Bay, demanding the government find alternatives further away from residential neighbourhoods.

Logbook for removal of Prince Edward injured had multiple amendments

Infectious disease expert Professor Gabriel Leung of the University of Hong Kong said it was a matter of practicality and empathy.

“Would you rather have these Hong Kong patients walking around on the streets, looking for clinics? Or would you rather have them going to a designated clinic which would be put under very strict protective measures?” he said.

“Even if you are selfish, you would want them to seek help as soon as possible.”

An officer pulled out his gun and pointed it at radicals attacking him on Saturday, but did not open fire. Police said he drew his weapon because he feared for his life as protesters hurled bricks, stones, bamboo sticks and other hard objects at him.

“Rioters began to gather around Nathan Road and Prince Edward Road West yesterday evening, blocking roads, setting fires, vandalising public facilities, hurling petrol bombs and attacking police officers with bricks and hard objects. Several police officers were injured as a result,” the government said on Sunday in an official statement.

The trouble broke out when protesters gathered outside Prince Edward MTR station, where they believe demonstrators were killed by police during a clearance operation on August 31, despite repeated official denials and a lack of any evidence.

Officers arrived soon afterwards, clearing flowers that had been placed at exit B1 of the station and urging the crowd to disperse. But about 100 protesters started to block Nathan Road and clashes broke out as the crowd grew in size into the night.

Protesters threw petrol bombs and bricks at officers, who responded with tear gas and pepper spray.

Civic groups banned from using government funds to buy yellow or black masks

Online media outlet Stand News accused police of yanking off its reporter’s gas mask and removing his helmet. The reporter was wearing a press vest and was being cooperative, the outlet said.

The government placed the blame squarely on the protesters, saying: “At this difficult juncture, a small number of radicals still conducted violent acts of vandalism which disregard law and order. Their behaviour is outrageous.”

Looking at the weekend’s return to protest chaos, political analyst Johnny Lau Yui-siu said the social unrest was bound to continue, as the government had yet to meet protesters’ key demands, including the establishment of an independent judge-led inquiry into allegations of police brutality and amnesty for all those facing prosecution.

“It won’t end, though it might take different forms, such as lobbying foreign governments to intervene,” Lau said. “The question is not what the Hong Kong government does to resolve this, but if it wants to do anything ... The authorities have not been listening to public opinion.”

Police have fired more than 16,000 rounds of tear gas and 10,000 rubber bullets. Some 2,000 people were injured, including 550 police officers.