Hong Kong endures more transit disruptions, more violence

Hong Kong residents endured a fourth day of traffic snarls and mass transit disruptions Thursday as protesters closed some main ros and rail networks while police skirmished with militant students at major universities.

Police said protesters shot several arrows at m near Hong Kong Polytechnic University. ne of officers were injured, and six arrows were seized at scene, police said.

Life in this city of 7.5 million has been strained as thousands of commuters have been unable to get to work or endured lengthy commutes.

government appealed for employers to show flexibility. “For staff who cant report for duty on time on account of conditions in ro traffic or public transport services, employers should give due consideration to circumstances,” a statement said.

Education Bureau extended suspension of classes for kindergarten to high school students until Monday. It ordered schools to remain open, though, to handle children whose parents need to send m to school.

At Polytechnic University, protesters shot an arrow at officers patrolling nearby, n threw flower pots from a height when or officers arrived. Police responded with tear gas, and protesters fired more arrows.

Protesters have hurled gasoline bombs and thrown objects off bridges onto ros below during clashes at campuses this week. Chinese University of Hong Kong suspended classes for rest of year, and ors asked students to switch to online learning.

Students at Chinese University, site of some of fiercest clashes where students hurled more than 400 firebombs at police on Tuesday, have barriced mselves in suburban campus.

Early Thursday y used chainsaws to drop trees onto streets around campus and prepared for a possible confrontation with police, which were t intervening.

Anti-government protests have riven Hong Kong, and divided its people, for more than five months.

A major rail line connecting Kowloon to mainland China was closed for a second day and five major underground stations were shut along with seven light rail routes, Transport Department anunced.

“Ro-based transport services have been seriously affected this morning due to continued ro blocks and dam to ro facilities. In view of safety concerns and uncertain ro conditions, buses can only provide limited services,” department said.

Traffic was also disrupted because protesters have destroyed at least 240 traffic lights around city.

movement began in June over a w-withdrawn extrition bill. Activists saw it as ar sign of an erosion in Hong Kong’s automy and freedoms, which China promised would be maintained for 50 years under a “one nation, two systems” principle when former British colony returned to Chinese control in 1997.