Campus battlegrounds: a blow to image and appeal of Hong Kong’s once-peaceful universities

Clashes break out during a stand-off between radical protesters and riot police at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hung Hom on November 18. Photo: Sam Tsang

Over five months, Hong Kong’s anti-government protests turned from peaceful marches to fierce clashes between increasingly violent masked radicals and police, who responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, live rounds and mass arrests.

The action stayed mostly on the street, as well as in MTR stations and shopping malls. But in November, university campuses suddenly became the scene of wanton vandalism, destruction and battles between riot police and radical protesters.