The UK says it is concerned by the escalating violence from both police and protesters occupying university campuses in Hong Kong.
A Foreign Office spokesperson made this known in a statement on Monday.
“The UK is seriously concerned by the escalation in violence from both the protestors and the authorities around Hong Kong university campuses,” the spokesperson said.
The autonomous Chinese city’s Polytechnic University became a scene of tumult on Sunday when protesters holed up inside threw petrol bombs and fired arrows at the police.
The police responded with tear gas and water cannon.
The police denied media reports that they had tried to enter the campus in a pre-dawn raid.
The UK Foreign Office stressed that it was “vital” that those stranded on campuses were granted safe passage and those injured were able to receive appropriate medical treatment.
Protests against the now-repealed extradition bill began in June but have since grown into a general anti-government movement, with demonstrators demanding greater police accountability.
China has sided with the Hong Kong authorities and repeatedly criticised the UK and other foreign powers over meddling in its internal affairs.
