This archive report was first published on 14 November 2019.
Protesters in Hong Kong have been building fortifications on university campuses, anticipating clashes with the police. The protests, which started in June over an extradition bill, have since evolved into broader demands for democracy and police accountability.
On Thursday, protesters at the Chinese University of Hong Kong built brick walls outside the campus's entrances, while students at other schools constructed elaborate roadblocks, dubbed 'Stonehenges' by some in the movement.
The police have been spraying tear gas at university entrances, and at least two universities have canceled on-campus lectures for the remainder of the fall semester. The University of Hong Kong's president, Xiang Zhang, urged students not to resort to violence, saying it would not solve any problems.
Transit disruptions have been reported across the city, with 64 people receiving medical treatment related to clashes on Wednesday. A 70-year-old man working for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department was hit on the head by 'hard objects hurled by masked rioters' and is in critical condition.
As the protests continue, the city's residents are bracing for further clashes between protesters and the police.
Fortifying Campuses ¶
Protesters have been building fortifications on university campuses, anticipating clashes with the police. The Chinese University of Hong Kong has seen the construction of brick walls outside the campus's entrances.
At the University of Hong Kong, protesters have used bricks and bamboo poles to erect elaborate roadblocks.
Transit Disruptions ¶
- 64 people received medical treatment related to clashes across Hong Kong on Wednesday.
- Some were gravely injured, although it was unclear how many of the injuries were specifically linked to violence by protesters or the police.
- A 70-year-old man working for Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department was hit on the head by 'hard objects hurled by masked rioters' and is in critical condition.
