University a battleground in Hong Kong protests

SUMMARY

For more than two weeks a Hong Kong university was transformed, first into a protester fortress with slingshots to fire gasoline bombs, then a city under siege with police arresting anyone who came out. The police departed on Friday, taking with them nearly 4,000 gasoline bombs and leaving perhaps a few protesters still hiding in the warren of buildings 12 days after the siege began.

By APDec 1, 2019 12:50:57 PM IST (Published)

Portraits of former university council chairpersons hang on the wall displaying the words "Era Revolution" sprayed by protesters at Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam refused to offer any concessions to anti-government protesters despite a local election trouncing, saying Tuesday that she will instead accelerate dialogue and identify ways to address societal grievances. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

Police in riot gear move through a cloud of smoke as they detain a protester at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police fought off protesters with tear gas and batons Monday as they tried to break through a police cordon that is trapping hundreds of them on a university campus. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

A fire burns near the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. Police stormed into a Hong Kong university campus held by protesters early Monday after an all-night siege that included firing repeated barrages of tear gas and water cannons. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)

Riot police detain protesters at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. About 100 anti-government protesters remained holed up at the university Tuesday as a police siege of the campus entered its third day. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)

Injured protesters huddle under blankets as they walk at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. About 100 anti-government protesters remained holed up at a Hong Kong university Tuesday as a police siege of the campus entered its third day. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)

An "SOS" sign formed with clothes and helmets by protesters is seen inside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus in Hong Kong. Six masked protesters surrendered early Friday morning in Hong Kong, bringing to about 30 the number that have come out in the past day from the university campus surrounded by police. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

A man is surrounded by trash after the major protests on the campus of the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. Six masked protesters from the university surrendered early Friday morning, bringing the number to about 30 that have come out in the past day from the university campus surrounded by police. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)

Protestors practice using a homemade slingshot at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police warned protesters on Thursday that they were moving "one step closer to terrorism" by sinking the city into chaos, as riot squads skirmished with militant students at major universities. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Protesters surrender themselves to the police outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus in Hung Hom district, Hong Kong, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. Early Tuesday, police allowed minors to leave the campus after a group of high school head teachers secured a promise that they could go home safely, local broadcaster RTHK reported. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)