This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
On November 13, 2019, Hong Kong was gripped by chaos and violence as protests entered their third day. The city's metro stations were closed, a rail line was suspended, and dozens of bus services were cancelled, leaving commuters stranded.
The previous night had seen intense clashes between police and protesters at the Chinese University of Hong Kong campus, with flames lighting up the night sky and dense clouds of acrid smoke filling the air. Despite efforts by faculty and staff to mediate, the violence continued well into the night.
On the streets of the Central business district, pitched battles raged, with bricks being thrown and fires lit in shopping malls. Tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets were used against protesters, who responded with bricks and petrol bombs.
The clashes followed a particularly brutal day on Monday, when police shot a protester and a man was set on fire. The violence has been escalating, with protesters increasingly targeting the working week in their protests.
On Wednesday, road junctions across the city were littered with debris and objects placed by protesters, as they heeded overnight calls to hit their local neighbourhoods and keep the police stretched and distracted from the Chinese University campus.
"Most of the cases I received from the frontline had been shot above their chest," said Marco, a 19-year-old volunteer medic, who had lost count of how many students he treated who had been struck by rubber bullets.
As the crisis deepens, authorities have offered repeated condemnation but been unable or unwilling to find a solution. Protesters are demanding a right to freely elect their leaders, as well as an independent inquiry into what they see as police brutality. China has steadfastly refused to offer any concessions and has instead warned of even tougher security measures.
