Anti-government protesters in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have maintained their momentum for 100 days, while public facilities have been repeatedly put in crisis mode as a result of violence and vandalism. Protesters set fire to entrances to Wanchai MTR station and damaged machines before dark on Sunday, while others threw petrol bombs at the central government headquarters in Admiralty. 

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Despite recent protests getting smaller, protesters appeared to be more violent compared to the previous 14 weekends. Defying a police ban, tens of thousands streamed from Causeway Bay to Central on Sunday, disrupting traffic and prompting major stores to close.

Masked mobs hurled petrol bombs at police, set the exit of one railway station ablaze and vandalized the facilities of other stations. Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets in return and called in water cannons to disperse the crowds. Throughout the evening, the two sides clashed in several areas, including Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, some of the world's busiest and most expensive commercial streets. 

Pillar sectors hammered

Most of the shops and malls in the areas closed early in anticipation of trouble as the city entered its 15th weekend in a row of social unrest. The over three-month-long protests have severely dragged down Hong Kong's economy, as pillar sectors including tourism, retails, financial market, property market and other services sectors faced a hammering. 

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Residents' daily lives threatened

Hong Kong residents' lives have been impacted too. On Sunday, the lawlessness escalated into confrontations further east on Hong Kong island in Fortress Hill and North Point, with some residents clashing with protesters dressed in black. 

Hong Kong's MTR system is critical for residents, as it serves for five million passengers each day. Shutting down MTR stations due to violence and vandalism has caused much inconvenience.

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Use of violence not the way to resolve problems

The HKSAR government released a statement strongly condemning hardline protesters for their violent acts. 

"Some radical protesters threw petrol bombs and bricks at the government headquarters, and burned a national flag, challenging national sovereignty. The use of violence is not the way to resolve problems and the government is displaying great sincerity in setting up a dialogue platform to communicate with HK residents," the statement said.

Read more: Hong Kong police strongly condemn violent acts during protests

Read more: Carrie Lam urges rioters to stop vandalizing public facilities

(Comics by Li Jingjie)