Thread by @HongKongFP

On Friday, Secretary for Civil Service Joshua Law wrote to all civil servants saying they would face immediate suspension from duties if they are simply arrested - rather than convicted - in relation to the ongoing protests.

File photo: GovHK.

At a multi-department press conference, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung also refused demands by protesters at the Chinese University of #HongKong to not cancel the District Council elections, or any of the "five demands".

File photo: GovHK.

The afternoon's government announcements prompted protesters at the Chinese University of #HongKong to block Tolo Highway once again in the evening.

Photo: Apple Daily screenshot.

However, wary of prolonged pitched battles, amid rumours of police action and with some campus dormitories closing, remaining student protesters have also decided to retreat from CUHK's No. 2 Bridge frontline - now no-man's land.

Photo: Stand News. #hongkong

Explosions were heard after a vehicle was reportedly set on fire as the protesters retreated and vanished.

Photo: Stand News screenshot. #hongkong

The heads of nine #HongKong universities issued a joint statement on Friday evening saying that some campuses - and hazardous materials on site - have become unacceptably controlled by protesters, with the safety of staff and students under threat.

Photo: Stand News.

However, in their joint statement, the university heads ultimately blamed the government for turning the campuses into political battlegrounds, and not taking steps to resolve the political crisis.

Photo: Stand News. #hongkong

Meanwhile, some road occupations and protests continue across #HongKong on Friday evening, with Mong Kok's Nathan Road the site of tear gas and several arrests.

Photo: Stand News.

In their daily press conference, the police said 58 people were arrested in relation to the protests on Thursday - including two German nationals in Tuen Mun.

194 tear gas cannisters were fired, as well as 81 other projectiles of different kinds.

Photo: Stand News. #hongkong

Meanwhile, in a press conference, two Democratic Party district council candidates arrested in Kwun Tong on Monday alleged beatings, delayed hospital treatment, and threats of being framed with heroin trafficking by the police.

Photo: InMedia. #hongkong

The two candidates announced they will soon file civil lawsuits in court against the police - hoping this would encourage others to do so.

Photo: InMedia. #hongkong

In the press conference, veteran lawyer Albert Ho added that victims of police brutality were unwilling to seek legal redress for fear of police increasing the seriousness of their charges in revenge - for example, from "obstructing an officer" to "rioting".

File photo: HKFP.

Meanwhile, a local pro-democracy district councillor has confirmed that ten Kwai Chung Estate residents arrested on Thursday night, when police stormed the private property, have been released on bail after some 20 hours in custody.

#hongkong

Only reporters remain at CUHK frontlines on Friday night. Since the "Battle of the No. 2 Bridge" against police on Tuesday, journalists and forum posts have suggested increasing differences between student protesters and external protesters.

File photo: Studio Incendo. #hongkong

Some student protesters are reportedly unhappy at external protesters unnecessarily vandalising the campus to mount defences, or asking for favours such as access to dormitories. There have been some accusations agent provocateurs are present.

File photo: Apple Daily. #hongkong

Both student and external protesters have began to depart CUHK towards the end of the week, in order to avoid creating bitter divisions. The campus was near-empty by Friday night.

File photo: Kaiser / United Social Press. #hongkong

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