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"Shame on the Hong Kong police," reads a small poster in the street after clashes between protesters and riot police on 1 October 2019 in Hong Kong. REUTERS / Susana Vera

In Hong Kong, on Tuesday, October 1, pro-democracy demonstrators again challenged the riot police. Incidents broke out and for the first time one protester was wounded by live ammunition while about 50 others were hospitalized. The chief of police gave a press conference to say that the police had committed no fault.

With our special correspondent in Hong Kong, Vincent Souriau

The chief of police justifies point by point the behavior of his troops. The officer who shot an 18-year-old protester and seriously wounded him in the chest was in his right, he said. This is a legal and reasonable decision, as the police feared for their lives.

" The police were attacked by very hostile demonstrators, armed with metal bars, thrown bricks on them, they were in danger . The police officer only protected his colleagues during what Stephen Lo, the police chief, named as one of the most violent and chaotic days in Hong Kong.

The official confirms that a total of six live ammunition were fired throughout Hong Kong, some of which was shot in the air as a warning shot. And he gives figures: 25 police officers wounded, 180 people arrested. At least 50 people were hospitalized. We had not seen such balance since the beginning of the movement.

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