CIVIL UNREST DEEP IN HONG KONG
China's Foreign Ministry says 'ending violence and restoring order is the paramount task in Hong Kong'
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the US and UK of "hypocrisy and double standards," according to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency.
Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang was responding to separate statements by the US State Department and UK responding to this week's particularly acute unrest, calling on both sides to exercise restraint.
"Ending violence and restoring order is the paramount task in Hong Kong," Geng said.
"I want to ask the US and British officials: How would their police deal with similar situations in their countries?"
Violence in Hong Kong reached new heights Monday, with three shocking incidents that seemed to demonstrate just how out of control the situation was getting on all sides. Early that morning, a traffic officer pulled his revolver on protesters and ended up shooting one in a scuffle. Soon afterward, another police officer was filmed driving his motorbike repeatedly at protesters in an apparent attempt to run them over -- he has since been suspended.
In the same day, another shocking video showed a man being doused with flammable liquid and set on fire after a dispute with protesters. He remains in hospital in a critical condition.
What to know about CUHK
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is one of Hong Kong's most prestigious institutions of higher education. It's also consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the world -- The Times Higher Education World University Rankings puts CUHK as tied for 57th-best, while US News and World Report ranked it 113th.
CUHK is located the New Territories, more than 10 miles (16.9 kilometers) away from the center of the city -- and a world away from the densely populated Hong Kong most people know. CUHK's campus it's leafy, green and spread-out.
The university can only be accessed by a handful of roads and one train station, which, combined with the fact that many students live on site, give it a self-contained, small town-like feel.
Police had attempted to access the campus via a road bridge, following demonstrations there as part of a call for citywide strikes.
Many students regarded Tuesday's police operation as an unwarranted encroachment and a threat to academic freedom, and reacted fiercely, circulating a message accusing police of laying "siege" to the university.
As it is private property, police can only enter the campus with a warrant, or if they are pursuing a suspect.
The violent and at times chaotic stand-off, which according to the city's hospital authority left 81 people injured, extended into the early hours of the morning as university officials tried to negotiate with police to get them to leave.
In one dramatic incident, CUHK Vice Chancellor Rocky Tuan was tear gassed as he attempted to approach police lines to talk.
The scene at No. 2 bridge
Bridge No. 2 on the Chinese University of Hong Kong campus was the center of some of the most intense clashes Tuesday night, the signs of which were still clearly evident Wednesday.
The roads leading to the bridge are black from the number of petrol bombs thrown. Tear gas and petrol still sting the nose. The streets, meanwhile, are littered with charred trash, tear gas canisters, bricks and other debris.
Dozens of protesters are manning the bridge. Guard posts have been erected, with protesters taking turns on patrol duty, looking out with binoculars.
In the middle of the bridge is another lookout post, manned by a black-clad protester armed with a bow and arrow. At the far side of the bridge is a large barricade doused in petrol.
Along the road are Molotov cocktails prepped and ready, as protesters organize and distribute supplies and reinforcements.
“ We are not trying to raise a fight against police but we are trying to stand our ground. (The) government and police are letting us down time and again,” one protester said, adding that the weapons on display were a "form a defense in face of threats.”
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