Police fire live round skyward as Hong Kong protesters stage demonstrations across the city to mourn the death of student Chow Tsz-lok
- Officers outnumbered in Yau Ma Tei forced to fire warning shot, source says
- Earlier in the day, dozens of angry students smashed up several sites at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
A live round was fired into the air by police in Yau Ma Tei as thousands of protesters staged demonstrations in at least nine areas across Hong Kong on Friday night, mourning the death of a university student who fell from a car park earlier in the week.
“A group of detectives were surrounded by protesters at the junction of Hamilton Street and Nathan Road. Being outnumbered, an officer opened fire towards the sky. There were no injuries,” a police source said.
Earlier in the day, dozens of angry students at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology vandalised their president’s residence and at least three cafeterias, a campus Starbucks outlet and a Bank of China branch.
The chaos happened after hundreds of students gathered at 1pm for five minutes of silence for Chow Tsz-lok, who died in the morning after suffering severe brain injuries and spending four days in hospital.
Students at HKUST’s piazza in the afternoon chanted slogans demanding that president Wei Shyy condemn police violence.
The university cancelled classes and a graduation ceremony on Friday afternoon, after an emotional Shyy announced Chow’s death at about 10am at a morning session where a moment of silence was observed.
