2019.11.16: Siege of Polytechnic University
【2019-11-11】General Strike Day
A group of protesters had gathered at The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (Hung Hom) from morning to noon. Protesters blocked a passageway near university platform Pao Yue-Kong Library, and around 1:15pm someone threw a suspected petrol bomb at a pile of items. Before the fire started, there were many sounds of glass bottles shattering. The items set on fire included umbrellas, railings, and so on.
【2019-11-12】Classes Suspended at Polytechnic University
On this day, netizens initiated a ‘Dawn Action 2.0: Daybreak Action’ movement. At around 8:00am, a group of protesters gathered on the bridge leading to Hung Hom MTR Station. Riot police were stationed there, and arbitrary arrested on mass outside Polytechnic University. Owan Li, Polytechnic University School Board Student Representative, arrived at the scene to understand the situation, hoping to provide assistance to those arrested. He was violently beaten and attacked by police.
Outside the campus, many black-clad civilians brought items to once again set up road blocks. A video circulated around the internet showed many black-clad protesters on the bridge towards Hung Hom MTR Station throwing miscellaneous items onto the road below.
To ensure the safety of students and staff, Polytechnic University announced the cancellation of all classes before 2:30pm. In the morning, riot police pursued protesters blocking the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, then charged onto campus grounds. Riot police eventually vacated the university, and the school council was made aware of the events that transpired. The university expressed regret at protesters for causing chaos.
【2019-11-13】Occupying Polytechnic University
Black-clad civilians gathered on the Gascoigne Road bridge leading to Polytechnic University, throwing miscellaneous items onto Gascoigne Road. Traffic was obstructed, and riot police showed up to unblock the roads.
After 12:00pm, black-clad civilians started to gather on the bridge to Polytechnic University, throwing plastic barriers, bamboo sticks, bricks, etc. onto Gascoigne Road. Some people took benches out from the university, and set up an umbrella barricade on the bridge. Over ten riot police arrived to unblock the roads, and conduct dispersion. Some black-clad civilians later went under the bridge and used a garbage truck to block the roads.
By 2:00pm, protesters had blocked off the entrance from Hong Chong Road Bridge to Polytechnic University. The situation is relatively calm, and there is no sign of police actions or deployments.
【2019-11-14】’Twilight Action’
On the fourth consecutive day of the netizens-initiated General Strike, many protesters initiated the ’Twilight Action’ movement. At 6:00am, protesters used bricks to block the roads near Polytechnic University, and riot police used tear gas to disperse them. By 3:00pm, more protesters had gathered, continuing to use bricks to block roads. At around 5:00pm, many armed riot police arrived at Austin Road & Chatham Road South.
Near Polytechnic University, Cross-Harbour Tunnel’s entrance at Kowloon, protester took control of the bridge, using miscellaneous items to block the highway which connected to the tunnel. At the same time, Cross-Harbour Tunnel’s entrance at Hong Kong Island was closed temporarily.
【2019-11-15】Revolution Canteen
As the General Strike Day made it’s way to the fifth day, many university campuses were taken by protesters and roads near the campus were blocked. Since yesterday’s use of tear gas by the police, Polytechnic University students continued to stay with their campus. Some citizens and students transport various kinds of food and supply to those who stayed on the campus. Supply distribution station inside the campus was established, volunteers entered the campus canteen to cook. The name “Revolution Canteen” was written outside the dining area.
Canteen’s ‘staffs’ consist of protesters, students, university’s teaching staffs and volunteers, providing free meals for everyone who stayed in the campus. Canteen menu includes fried rice and barbecue meat etc.. The kitchen implemented the division of labours, forming departments like Chinese Cusine and dish cleaning etc., large crowd of black-clad civilian lining up in the dining hall, waiting for their meal. Apart from Polytechnic University, Chinese University of Hong Kong also has her group of ‘volunteer cook’, some volunteers were even volunteering in both universities.
Besides of food, donated supplies also gather in the dining area, including hundreds of chargers, towel, raincoat, clothes etc., some volunteers helped to sort the gathered clothes into different categories, like clothes for male or female.
【2019-11-16 】Retreat into Polytechnic University
0900 p.m., a group of protesters relocated some iron railings to Chatham Road South, just outside the Science Museum as roadblocks. They also try to ignite tree branches and place nails on the road. A group of riot police, also known as Police Tactical Unit (PTU), was put on alert at Austin Road, approximately 400 meters away from Polytechnic University, lighting up the area through flashlights. A few protesters approached and threw petrol bombs to them.
At 1000 p.m., a group of riot police formed a horizontal line at Chatham Road South, pushing forward toward Polytechnic University. Tear gases were fired no long after the police raised the black flag (Warning crowds of the use of tear gas) and orange flag (Warning crowds of the use of rubber bullets). Protesters returned fire by petrol bombs. Riot police keep advancing to the crossroad of Chatham Road South and Austin Road. At the same time, another group of riot police stationed at Austin Road fired multiple shots of tear gas, but there were no protesters at Austin Road at that time. After that, riot police advancing toward Polytechnic University. Not long after, police withdraw their line back, in response, protesters also drawback to Cheong Wan Road near Polytechnic University, confronting the police line with hand-held wooden shields.
At 1100 p.m., police push forward from Science Museum Road toward the campus, protesters threw petrol bombs to stop the advance, police responded by raising black flags and firing multiple shots of tear gas. At the same time, police line at Chatham Road South advanced to the crossroad again and fired tear gas. Protesters withdraw back into the campus, laying defence on the university podium. A Fire was ignited in front of the entry to the university at A Core, multiple explosions were seen and the police did not enter the campus.
2019-11-17 Resume Of Conflicts
Around 1000 a.m., near Rosary Church at the junction between Austin Road and Chatham Road South, some pro-government citizens and blue ribbon fanatics try to clear out the roadblocks. They relocate bricks and railings off the road, but soon stopped by protesters in Polytechnic University. Few threw stones toward the fanatics. Riot police arriving shortly and intervene, protesters used umbrellas to form defensive formation and confronted with the police.
Around 1100 a.m., riot police started to fire tear gas to protesters. In response, petrol bombs were thrown back to the police line.
At noon, the conflict escalates as the police deployed two water cannon trucks and one Unimong armoured personnel carrier to the field, pushing toward protester’s defensive line at the same time. The water cannon trucks shoot high-velocity streams of poisonous transparent and blue dye chemicals solution to protesters, who fight back by petrol bombs and bricks.
Around 0200 p.m., during the conflict outside Polytechnic Unversity, near Rosary Church at the junction between Chatham Road South and Austin Road, a policeman from Police Media Liaison Team was shot by an arrow, the arrow passed through his left calf. He was then transferred to Kwong Wah Hospital to receive treatment and surgery. Later, a policeman was hit by a tiny metal pellet, but protected by his helmet and therefore unharmed.
At 0450 p.m., Polytechnic University made official demands that all personnel within the campus area, including students and academic staffs, do not stay in the campus area.
Around 0850 p.m., police sent two Unimog armoured personnel carriers to Cheong Wan Road Bridge, advancing toward the university. Protesters threw a larger quantity of petrol bombs to one of the armoured carrier, which eventually caught fire, stop advancing and retreated back to the police defensive line. The fire was put off later.
Although, Hong Kong Police appeal stated that all personnel should leave the Polytechnic University peacefully through the exit at Y Core. However, the same police force fire tear gas near the exit area, also arrested many citizens, paramedics and journalists who followed the police order and left the campus. The arrestees’ hand were tied from behind and sat on the ground accordingly. Some complain that some policemen pointed their guns toward them.
Hong Kong Journalist Association appealed at night, stating that according to the police, all personnel who leave from Polytechnic Unversity will be arrest unless they can prove themselves as journalist practitioners by certified documents. After consecutive days of conflicts at Polytechnic University, the ambience turned to intensify at night. Serious clashes broke out between the police and the protesters. Started from 1100 p.m., police kept trying to break through the protesters defensive line outside the campus. After raised the orange and black flag, riot police resumed their advance, covering by tear gas, rubber bullets, sponge grenade, Unimog armoured personnel carrier and water cannon truck. On the other hand, protesters threw bricks and petrol bombs to counterattack the advancing police line and vehicles. The situation deadlock and clashes continued to late-night, police kept firing tear gas at Chatham Road South, attempted to deplete protester’s resource and break through the line. After police’s unsuccessful advance, field broadcast was made to the protesters, demanding them to surrender.
【2019-11-18】Siege of Polytechnic University
At dawn, around 0530 a.m., Police Special Tactics Squad (STS), also known as Raptor, broke through protester’s defensive line and advanced into Polytechnic University’s main entrance at A core. University’s temporary medical shelter was occupied by the police which withdrew shortly, while multiple bloodstains were spotted after police’s withdrawal. Former Polytechnic University School Board Student Representative (2018-2020), Li-Owan stated that the police cut-off protester’s retreat route from three directions. Moreover, he also points out the fact that injured protesters cannot receive appropriate medical assistance since all volunteer paramedics were under arrest. Many of them have eye injuries or hypothermia caused by the liquid ejected from the police water cannon truck.
Acting president of Polytechnic University Student Union Wu Kwok-Wang said that there were at least 500 protesters within the campus area, around 70 to 100 of them try to leave but forced back by police’s tears gas before they can make their way to the police defensive line.
At 0900 a.m., an RTHK journalist within the campus area was rudely demanded by riot police to raise his hands and receive inspections of personal and journalist ID card at police defensive line when he was heading to police’s designated position to change-of-shift. When the journalist explained that he was trying to change shift, riot police rejected him and asked him to leave the defensive line from other possible routes, while guns were pointed at him for the whole time. Furthermore, near Cross-Harbour Tunnel, other RTHK journalists were stopped by riot police when they try to film the situation of the campus area, while the riot police claim that all personnel within the area of Polytechnic University will be charge as participation in a riot.
Thereafter, many protesters, students and civilians within the campus area try their ways to escape from police’s siege, including jumping off from footbridge, running through highways and crawling in the sewer system to bypass the police encirclement.
【2019-11-19】Paramedics And Some Protesters Leave The Besieged Campus
At dawn, worried being tormented after the arrest, part of the protesters inside the campus try to make their way into the sewer near the Innovation Tower inside Polytechnic University. Firemen immediately halted them and rescued many as they search through nearby sewers for over 2 hours. In the end, those who entered the sewer claims to gave up any further attempt since the sewer is too ‘smelly’.
At 1000 a.m., around hundred of the remaining personnel who suffered hypothermia and general discomfort due to inhalation of unknown gases, led by ambulancemen, sat on the ground outside the campus, covered by emergency space blanket to maintain body temperature and waiting for ambulances to the hospital. Meanwhile, some secondary school students (below 18 years old) chose to follow their school principals and teachers, receive body search and registration of personal data in the police’s blockade line at Science Museum Road before leaving the besieged campus. Some of them said they felt abandoned as most of their friends have left.
At 0300 p.m., Hong Kong Police stated that they have arrested or registered about 1100 people in and around the area of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 600 of them are ‘Voluntarily Leaving’, including 400 adults and 200 teenagers approximately. According to police’s analysis, most of the ‘Voluntarily Leaving’ personnel are not the student of the Polytechnic University. In the meantime, president of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Teng Jin-Guang entered the besieged campus and stayed for less than an hour. However, he did not meet any student belonged to his university or protester during his stay. When journalists try to approach him, he ignored and left quickly.
At 0800 p.m., around 20 paramedics who stayed inside the campus announced that they had accomplished their work of provision of medical assistance. Due to concern of personal safety, insufficient drinking water and food and greatly decreased number of protesters, the medical team will leave the university campus.
At 1000 p.m., the new Commissioner of Police Chris Tang Ping-Keung accompanied by multiple policemen, arrived at Cheong Wan Road and Chatham Road South near Polytechnic University, inspected the nearby situation, communicated and handshake with riot police. Yet, he did not enter the university’s campus area. Around 1100 p.m., at least 6 of the protesters try to sneak through police’s defensive line during the evacuation of the medical team. They climbed through barbed wire and entered the area of Cross-Harbour Tunnel, but failed to escape as multiple riot police discovered and arrested them.
【2019-11-20】Psychological Tactics
Around 1000 a.m., accorded to Apple Daily’s news report of protesters successfully escaped from sewers, police had laid traps at all sewer exits near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hung Hom area. Six people were arrested for taking part in a riot and assisting criminals under Cheong Wan Road Bridge, while one of them is Alvin Cheng Kam-Mum from Civil Passion. Still, around 0900 a.m., one person successfully escaped from the sewer without detection. The chairman of Civil Passion Cheng Chung-Tai later expressed his anger toward Apple Daily on Facebook, also stated that Apple Daily had deleted regarding news report after meeting.
Although the conflict de-escalated a bit, there were still approximately 100 protesters remained inside the campus. At night, several policemen at Chatham Road South equipped with speakers used means of psychological tactics, tried to persuade the remaining protesters in the Polytechnic University to surrender themselves.
They said’ Don’t you feel lonely? Doesn’t matter, step out and surrender to us. Although you have against the law, all you have done are just destroying or damaging the property of the Polytechnic University, which is not a very serious charge. Destroying or damaging property is an act of crime and responsibility must be undertaken. When you committed a crime, you must pay for it, it is common sense. Similar to having a meal outside, you must pay your bill, it is also a common sense. Why would somebody hope themselves could be excluded from legal responsibility after committed a crime? Then what is the point of having a police force if everyone doesn’t have to assume the legal consequences? You can’t be so selfish. Do you understand? You guys damaged railways and roads. I never expected to saw a beach outside Polytechnic University. It’s like you had transformed this place to Maldives. It doesn’t matter if you still refuse to surrender. We will maintain our blockade line till Christmas, till Lunar New Year, till Easter or even for a longer period. However, the number of remaining personnel continue to decrease while the number of surrender personnel gradually increase as time past. Remember not to resist when we storm into the campus, do you understand?’
Police also criticised the act of photographing and filming in such an area. Afterwards, Jay Chou Chieh-Lun’s song “Surrounded” was played as the mean of psychological tactics. Some policemen also shout out ‘Fxxking cockroaches, did you have your supper yet? ‘
【2019-11-21】”Life Bread”
Lau Siu-Bong, a superintendent from the Police Public Relationship Branch, explained the situation of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University through live streaming on Facebook. He stated that there were approximately 1000 people left from Polytechnic University till 21st November 2019. Among them, roughly 300 are below 18 years old, their personal data will be registered and photos will be taken when exiting the police blockade line. Lau said the Hong Kong police hope to solve this incident peacefully and no deadline has been set.
At night, police continued to shout and point their flashlight toward Polytechnic University, stating they have discovered that well-educated individuals are weaker than those who have not been through tertiary education in terms of personal abilities. ‘You don’t even have the perseverance to finish the YiJin course (a course with similar difficulty to secondary education, designed for those who have failed catastrophically in public exams),’ according to their speaking. They also mocked the remaining personnel live a life similar to underprivileged, scavengers and poor elderlies, who only have cold “Life Bread” for daily meal. In contrast, police like them can go to Shenzhen in mainland China after work, enjoying HaiDiLai Hotpot and cold beer.
- #”Life Bread”
- In the 1950s and 1960s, since Hong Kong is still a developing region, people in Hong Kong still need to struggle for food every day. Bread producers Garden thinks that people in Hong Kong need a kind of bread which is convenient to eat and rich in nutrients. Therefore, “Life Bread” was introduced to the market in 1960, a bread composed of rich nutrients, various kinds of vitamins and minerals. The name “Life Bread” means health and growth.
- In the 1960s, the price of “Life Bread” was 70 cents per bag, due to it’s relatively low price, underprivileged could easily replenish essential nutrients. As wax paper is moisture resistant, “Life Bread” was packed by wax papers to extend the length of its shelf life.
- In the 1970s, Hong Kong had suffered multiple times of natural disasters. Colonial Government of British Hong Kong frequently provided free “Life Bread” as a mean of emergency food to those who have affected by the disaster, ensuring these citizens’ basic needs of food.
【2019-11-27】Searching For Remaining Personnel
Since 0930 a.m., the Hong Kong Polytechnic University officially sent nine groups of staffs, totally a hundred people into the besieged campus, searching for any remaining personnel. In the meantime, damaged office and laboratories will also be inspected. No remaining personnel was found during the search of all floors and rooms of the entire campus. This operation ended at noon.
At 0400 p.m., Hong Kong Polytechnic University officially announced that the school had done a comprehensive search for any possible remaining personnel inside the campus. It would be unnecessary for the police to launch a similar operation in the future, while the besieged campus should be unblocked immediately.
Sources：
Wikipedia - Siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
ST headline - 【General Strike Day】Polytechnic University cancelled all lessons before 0230 p.m.
Apple Daily - 【The War Against Tyranny●Polytechnic University】Over hundred protestors escaped through lowering from footbridge Riot police arrived later and sealed off the escape route
Apply Daily - 【The War Against Tyranny●Live】A group of secondary student accompanied by principal stepped out the campus Waiting to be registered at police defensive line
Apple Daily - Jasper Tsang Yok-Sing entered Polytechnic University searching for ‘Chu Wun’
Apple Daily - 【The War Against Tyranny●Siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University】Police surrounded the campus Protester’s archer prepared for the worst, he said’ expected to die soon and last words had already been written down’