A week of escalated chaos in Hong Kong continued through the weekend. But as protestors set up barricades, some volunteers had been risking injury by going out to help clear the roads. 

Nighttime protests in Hong Kong resumed after dusk. The Polytechnic University once again turned into a battleground. 

Protesters targeted police with bricks and petrol bombs. Police used water cannons and fired tear gas. A police media liaison officer was hit in the calf by an arrow. 

A vital traffic channel near the campus, the cross-harbor road tunnel, was blocked by protesters. Online posts said people would clean up the tunnel, but black-clad protestors guarded the site with bows and arrows. 

But elsewhere in the city, volunteers gathered to clean up the mess. 

"Local residents have always wanted to clean up the streets, but dare not take action because of threats and intimidation by radical protesters," said Ma Fung-Kwok, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor. 

"But as the violence escalated, the situation became more and more intolerable. So Hong Kong residents took to the streets to clean up despite the danger, because they think they have to do it," Ma said. 

The volunteers were joined by soldiers from the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Dozens of soldiers, dressed in shorts and T-shirts, were out on the streets of Kowloon Tong on Saturday afternoon to help clean up barricades. Passersby thanked them and clapped their hands. 

"The appearance of soldiers of the PLA Garrison in Hong Kong on the street and their cleaning up is very encouraging. It's a message that the central government cares about the situation in Hong Kong," Ma said. 

Ma said the PLA has shown its support to Hong Kong with this activity, and it was very much welcomed by Hong Kong residents. 

The battle of opinions continues in Hong Kong. But as violence becomes life-threatening, more and more people have agreed that security is a priority.