Protesters hit Hong Kong commute as western powers urge restraint

Hong Kong protesters struck the city's transport network for a second day running on Tuesday as western powers voiced concern over spiralling violence after police shot a young demonstrator and another man was set on fire.

Small bands of masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects onto train tracks and held up subway trains, sparking cat and mouse clashes with riot police and renewed chaos on the morning commute. Universities were also a flashpoint with police firing tear gas around at protesters who had blocked roads leading to the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Masked activists outside Hong Kong University blocked a main road by dropping objects from a footbridge. Overnight, students there had clashed with police after officers made an arrest outside one of the university's residences.

And at Polytechnic University clashes broke out as police tried to arrest a female student.

Owan Li, the student representative on the university's governing body, said he was beaten by police as he tried to mediate. "The officers were rather arrogant and unbridled," Li told AFP, sending pictures of bruises to his hand and leg.

"They said I was being aggressive and obstructing their work, then the six to seven of them dragged me out and gave me a round of beating and kicking."