Hong Kong police appealed on Saturday to those staying in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to leave in a peaceful manner, pledging to bring offenders to justice in a fair manner.

Police have consistently emphasized two principles: Peaceful resolution and flexibility, the police said in a statement, reiterating that a peaceful resolution is always their aim to solve the ongoing conflict.

For those under 18 years old, police will "arrange an appropriate adult to accompany them," according to the police, stressing that all underage persons leaving the campus "will not be arrested at scene but police reserve every right to pursue or take any legal actions in the future."

In the past few days, the police have actively engaged with different sectors for dialogues and solutions, including PolyU staff, principals, social workers, lawyers, legislative councilors, religious leaders and clinical psychologists, read the statement.

On Friday, Tang Ping-keung, the new commissioner of police of HKSAR, called on protesters remaining at the PolyU to leave the campus immediately, adding that he hoped for a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

From Sunday afternoon, rioters occupied the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, set a footbridge on fire and attacked a police armored vehicle with petrol bombs.

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