In Central another spontaneous lunchtime march has kicked off to support the protesters trapped inside the Polytechnic University. They’re chanting, “Save PolyU! There are students [there]!”
Tense stand-off with riot police outside Exchange Square. Protesters in suits and dresses and nothing more than simple surgical masks are shielding themselves with umbrellas and calling the police murderers and rapists. Intermediate weapons drawn and flags ready, advancing slowly
After retreating west down DVRC protesters marched up to QRC, where another line of riot police sweeping eastward forced them up into Soho. Having evaporated into the side streets or gone back to their workplaces, they will most likely coalesce around new road blocks again later. 
Across the harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui, just around the corner from PolyU, protesters have occupied Chatham Road from Mody to Cameron, where they are currently locked in a tense stand-off with riot police. The smell of tear gas hangs heavy in the air.
Protesters on Chatham are dismantling their barricades and advancing mortars toward the riot police lines.
Round after round of tear gas is now being fired at protesters from a pedestrian foot bridge.
What a direct hit from the police water canon vehicle looks like. No mercy for protesters or reporters today.
Following a call-out issued on LIHKG, protesters are gathering at TST East Centenary Garden, collecting food onations for students trapped at PolyU and conducting a silent sit-in opposite police lines. Legislators Claudia Mo, Ted Hui, Ray Chan, and Longhair are all in attendance.
Meanwhile, just around the corner on Chatham Road South, riot police close in on protesters from both directions and an armoured vehicle storms through the barricades, tear gas and various intermediate weapons fired throughout.
Protesters retreat in face of tear gas, having briefly approached three line of riot police guarding the zone of exclusion around PolyU.
Protesters give it another go but are repelled by a fiercer volley of tear gas, including multiple rounds fired up at the now-blocked Hung Hom Bypass where many journalists were stationed.
Another, third attempt was also made —this time called back when riot police began approaching them from the rear. Several times today I’ve witnessed protesters charge headlong into danger after reminding each other this is their last chance to rescue the students at PolyU.
Riot police leaping out of their vehicles on the Hung Hom Bypass too for tear gas at people on a pedestrian foot bridge.
Hundreds of protesters are dragging the cast iron furniture from an al fresco dining spot down onto the Hung Hom Bypass, slowly marching back to the spot where riot police are keeping them from the approach to PolyU.
A supply chain has formed along Salisbury Road, passing along umbrellas, zip ties and materials for barricades to the frontline. The crowd just keeps swelling. Just when I think people are retreating today, someone shouts “save the students!” and something like this happens.
The Battle for PolyU is continuing apace, with riot police keeping up a constant barrage of tear gas to hold back protesters, who are now moving further to the Hung Hom Bypass.
With dozens of riot police now moving down the Bypass towards protesters they’re constructing a bridge out street barriers to facilitate escape between the highway and the walk way.
A hectic retreat from the Hung Hom Bypass back down to Salisbury Road after dozens of riot police moved in from further along the elevated highway.
Riot police are continuing to march down Salisbury Road, firing a hail of tear gas and pushing protesters back toward TST. This couple was caught in their car with only surgical masks as a miasma of tear gas enveloped them.
On Salisbury Road, a fire engulfing one car soon spreads to three others, sending the advancing riot police hundreds of meters back. Here, protesters dismantle their road block to let through a motorist whose car the inferno also threatened to swallow.
Over on Nathan Road they’re getting much more creative with the stone structures. Besides the classic trilithons, we have some that resemble Inuit inuksuk and others that invoke the meditative art of stone stacking.
