Hong Kong riot police used tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters on a university campus on Tuesday, November 12, the day after an outbreak of violence in which police fired live ammunition at protesters seriously wounding one of them.

Radical protesters, wearing face masks, set up barricades and blocked roads at the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Chinese University. At the Polytechnic University, riots took place as the police tried to challenge a student.

Small groups of masked protesters also blocked roads again, threw objects on the tracks and detained subways. Bus and metro traffic was seriously disrupted for the second day in a row in many parts of the city.

In Central, which is home to many large foreign companies and luxury boutiques, thousands of office workers also organized spontaneous gatherings at lunchtime. They chanted: "Fight for freedom, support Hong Kong!" Small groups of protesters blocked streets and arteries in the area, leading to riot police being deployed for the second day in a row.

A day of Monday under tension

Hong Kong experienced Monday one of the most violent and chaotic days in 24 weeks of mobilization. Police said more than 260 people had been arrested, bringing the number of arrests to more than 3,000 since protests turned violent in June.

The protesters reacted, in particular, to the actual live fire fired by a 21-year-old protester. Throughout the day, protesters ransacked subway stations, erected barricades at some intersections. They also attacked businesses accused of being pro-Beijing authorities.

Convictions of Western countries

The day of violence prompted the Western powers to urge Hong Kong Executive Carrie Lam to find a compromise with the protesters. "We condemn the violence of all parties (...) and call on all parties - police and protesters - to show restraint," said a spokesman for the US State Department, who shared his views. "serious concern".

For its part, the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered "deeply disturbing" the violence that occurred on Monday. "Protesters should avoid violence and the police do not respond disproportionately," the spokesman for British diplomacy said.

When asked about these criticisms, Chinese diplomacy rejected the "ulterior motives" of London and Washington and supported the policeman who opened fire.

With AFP and Reuters