Highlights: Hong Kong police seal off university, raising fears of crackdown

MTR

18/11/2019 03:49

HONG KONG, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Hong Kong police fired tear
gas at protesters as they tried to escape a besieged university
on Monday while hundreds more pro-democracy activists stayed
inside armed with petrol bombs and other weapons awaiting an
expected operation to oust them.
    Protesters inside Polytechnic University faced off against a
police water cannon and armoured vehicles. Police threatened to
fire live bullets if "rioters" did not stop using lethal
weapons.  
    Protesters have blocked one of the city's major highways,
the Cross Harbour Tunnel linking Hong Kong island to the Kowloon
peninsula, for much of the past week.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N27X0BQ
    Following is the latest news from the protests: 
    
    - 10:22 a.m. on Monday (0222 GMT): The United States
condemned the "unjustified use of force" in Hong Kong and called
on Beijing to protect Hong Kong's freedom.
    - 0158 GMT on Monday: Police arrested at least 60 people on
Science Museum Road nearby the Polytechnic University -
broadcaster RTHK reported. 
    - 0152 GMT on Monday: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
student union acting president Ken Woo says at least 500 people
are still inside the campus and he believed some 70-100 intended
to leave but were pushed back as police fired volleys of tear
gas - Broadcaster RTHK cited Woo as saying in a programme.
    - 2256 GMT on Sunday: MTR Corp  0066.HK  says East Rail Line
between Hung Hom and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau stations at the border
will be in service but it may suspend or adjust services.
    - 2255 GMT on Sunday: Transport Department says Cross
Harbour Tunnel and major roads in Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and
Mong Kok are closed, while about 170 sets of traffic lights are
under repair. 
    - 2241 GMT on Sunday: Police clarify that no "raiding"
operation was conducted inside Polytechnic University. Police
appeal to everyone inside the campus to leave immediately.
    - 2154 GMT Sunday: Police say three shots were fired in
early hours in Jordan Road as "rioters" attacked two police
officers when they escorted an arrested 20-year-old woman to an
ambulance. Police say the shots did not hit anyone but the woman
escaped.
    - 2141 GMT Sunday: Protestors inside Hong Kong Polytechnic
University campus set the main entrance on fire as police
attempt to move in.
    - 1842 GMT Sunday: Police warn drivers not to use their
vehicles to block roads in Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan districts
and obstruct police operation.



 (Reporting by Donny Kwok
Editing by xxx;)
 ((donny.kwok@thomsonreuters.com; +852 2843 6470; Reuters
Messaging: donny.kwok.reuters.com@reuters.net))