Hong Kong Protests: Police Warn That City On ‘Brink Of Total Collapse’, Harsher Crackdown In The Offing

Hong Kong is teetering on the “brink of total collapse”, the police warned on Tuesday as another day of violence rocked the city as five-month crisis veered towards a potentially explosive phase, BBC reported.

Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong also warned that the city is “sliding into the abyss of terrorism” and a harsher crackdown is needed to end the unrest and restore order.

In a commentary piece published on Wwednesday, Chinese news agency Xinhua said that Hong Kong was running out of time to take self-corrective measures.

The warning came as protesters violently clashed with police across the city on Tuesday.

The fresh wave of violent protests comes a day after a demonstrator was shot in the torso by police. In retalilatory violence, a pro-Beijing supporter was set ablaze by anti-government protesters.

Chinese University (CUHK) witnessed violent clashes between between police and anti-government demonstrators. The city police fired tear gas outside the university campus resulting in a showdown with students.

Protests erupted in Hong Kong started in June over the now-shelved extradition bill but has not turned more into a movement demanding greater democracy and police accountability.