Hong Kong police issued a statement on Tuesday night addressing a standoff between police and protesters at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in the New Territories.

"The police and the CUHK have reached a consensus in search for a peaceful solution. However, the situation in CUHK continues to intensify," Hong Kong police said in the statement.

The standoff began Tuesday at the CUHK campus.

Hundreds of protesters threw bricks, petrol bombs, launched arrows and even fired a signal flare at police officers during the standoff.

Such violence has reached a deadly level, posing a serious threat to police officers and everyone at the scene, police said in the statement.

The radical protesters threw hard objects and petrol bombs onto Tolo Highway, endangering drivers' safety. They also hampered emergency services, such as ambulance services.

A specialized crowd management vehicle is on standby at the scene and will be deployed to assist a retreat if necessary, police added. 

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Carrie Lam earlier on Tuesday said protesters were being "extremely selfish" and urged teachers and students not to engage in political activities at schools.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang on Tuesday reiterated the Central Government's support for HKSAR in exercising its power under the Basic Law and added that the police action was in accordance with the law as it was made to "protect personal and other residents' safety."

Hong Kong police: University campus or 'weapons factory'?

On Wednesday, Hong Kong police briefed the media on a standoff. In it, the police expressed strong suspicions that the campus was used by rioters as a "weapons factory" from which several hundreds of petrol bombs were thrown in a single day.

Last night, some violent protesters on the CUHK campus armed with chainsaws, petrol bombs, bows and arrows attacked the police and the lives of the police were seriously threatened, Senior Superintendent Wong Wai-shun of Operations Wing said at the press conference.

One of the four police officers injured last night was shot in the neck by protesters' signal flare. 

"What happened in the Chinese University of Hong Kong is a black moment for Hong Kong. An university is supposed to be a breeding ground for future leaders, but it became a battlefield for criminals and rioters," the police said.

In addition, police said they arrested 142 people Tuesday (97 men and 45 women) on charges that included illegal assembly, assaulting police and possession of offensive weapons.

"If someone breaks the law, regardless where you hide, the police have lawful powers to come after the offenders and bring them to justice," police added.