Defiant protesters inside Hong Kong's Polytechnic University faced off against a police water cannon and armoured vehicles in raging battles that lasted an entire day and through the night. Beijing denies interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and has blamed foreign influences for the unrest. An armoured police vehicle that was set ablaze by petrol bombs in Sunday's violence was towed away early on Monday. Former British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind said in a statement: "Hong Kong's Chief Executive has the responsibility to do everything possible to prevent a massacre. Chinese troops have appeared on Hong Kong's streets only once since 1997, to help clear up after a typhoon last year.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 17, 2019 22:16 UTC