Several protesters have escaped from a Hong Kong university campus surrounded by police by abseiling from a bridge and fleeing on the back of motorbikes.
A protester lowers herself down a rope from a bridge to a highway, to escape from Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus and from police. Photo: AFP
Around 100 others who tried to leave the Polytechnic University were met with tear gas and rubber bullets. Some were arrested.
Authorities say 116 people were injured in the violence on Monday.
In the past week, the campus has become the latest battleground for long-running anti-government protests.
The violence is some of the worst seen during months of unrest in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. The protests started over a controversial extradition bill, and have now evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations.
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China has warned that "no-one should underestimate [its] will to safeguard its sovereignty and Hong Kong's stability", and its ambassador to the UK said the central government would not sit back and watch if the situation became "uncontrollable".
Hong Kong is a part of China, and the protests are, in part, about the fear that the special freedoms the territory enjoys as a former British colony are being eroded.
More than 200 devastated parents are sitting outside #PolyU and hoping to see their kids. Several hundred setudents are still locked in PolyU and these parent are helpless. They can only wait. #HongKong pic.twitter.com/Xp0ny1O3aI
— Nathan Law 羅冠聰 (@nathanlawkc) November 18, 2019
On Monday, Hong Kong's High Court ruled that a ban on protesters wearing face masks was unconstitutional. The colonial-era emergency law was invoked in October, but protesters largely defied it.
Hong Kong's government said the weekend's events had "reduced the chance" of district elections being held on Sunday as planned, public broadcaster RTHK reported. Postponing or cancelling the vote could further inflame the protests.
The UK has urged an "end to the violence and for all sides to engage in meaningful political dialogue" ahead of the elections.
Last week New Zealand universities asked their exchange students in Hong Kong to return home amid the ongoing violent protests.
Tear gas is fired by police as protesters attempt to escape the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Photo: AFP
What is happening?
Police are still besieging the university where several hundred protesters are thought to be trapped. Officers have ordered those inside to drop their weapons and surrender.
A protester inside the university told the BBC that supplies, including first aid equipment, were running low.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out on campus and loud explosions were heard, according to the South China Morning Post.
Arrests made after protestors make a run for it on tunnel entrance highway by #hongkong Polytechnic pic.twitter.com/4B54GtBOt8
— Robin Brant 白洛宾 (@robindbrant) November 18, 2019
PolyU has been occupied by protesters for several days. On Sunday night, police warned protesters they had until 22:00 (local time) to leave the campus, saying they could use live ammunition if the attacks continued.
On Sunday, the university said it had been "severely and extensively vandalised".
A number of protesters left inside the university have identified themselves as current students in media interviews but it is unclear exactly how many of them are, in fact, university students.
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