At about 7pm, rioters gathered at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University set fire to the flyover connecting the campus and the Hung Hom MTR station. Multiple explosions were heard.  The flame even dropped to the road under the flyover, threatening the safety of everyone at scene.  Rioters also threw petrol bombs towards police officers on Cheong Wan Road in order to stop Police’s dispersal operation.  Police have in response deployed tear gas to disperse rioters. Rioters are having a standoff with Police at scene.
      
     Police have repeatedly urged members of the public to leave the vicinity of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University immediately. Anyone who enter or stay on the campus and assist rioters in any way will risk committing the offence of “Taking Part in a Riot”.
 

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department today (November 17) appealed that the Hong Kong Museum of History is a cultural institution, which aims at offering a place for the public and intellectuals to appreciate artefacts, and to learn about history and culture. Members of the public please treasure the museum and not to cause any damage to it.
 

     In the past hour, rioters continued to confront Police officers and built barricades on the footbridge at Cheong Wan Road to obstruct Police action. In the past half an hour, rioters threw tens of petrol bombs at officers.
      
     The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has repeatedly requested students and staff to leave the campus. Police have also repeatedly urged members of the public to leave immediately and avoid going to the area. Police officers will carry on with the dispersal operation and warn members of the public not to assist rioters in any way or they will risk committing the offence of “Taking Part in a Riot”.
      
     In addition, Police have deployed a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), installed on top of a Unimog, to give warnings to rioters. Using the LRAD is to convey important messages over a long range in a noisy environment. Police stress that the LRAD is a broadcasting system but not a weapon. Unlike what is said in individual media reports, the LRAD does not generate ultra-low frequency which will cause dizziness, nausea or loss of sense of direction. Police clarify that all such rumours are false. Police have strict guidelines and regulations on using the LRAD.

     Rioters continue to use lethal weapons like petrol bombs, bows, arrows, metal balls and bricks to launch attacks on Police officers.
         
     At around 2pm, after a Force Media Liaison Cadre member was struck in the calf by an arrow, at the same time, a metal ball hit an anti-riot Police officer’s visor, right above his nose. The officer was not injured.
      
     Taking control of a platform near Block A of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, rioters continue to launch hard objects and petrol bombs with large catapults at Police officers. The shooting range of such large catapults can reach up to 40 meters. Such attacks pose a grave threat to the safety of Police officers, reporters and first aiders at scene. Also, a large amount of offensive weapons, including flammable fluids, are stored on the campus, jeopardising public safety.
      
     Police warn that the violent activities in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have escalated to rioting. Anyone who stays behind or assists rioters may be liable to the offence of “Taking Part in a Riot”. Police warn all rioters and their accomplices to stop all illegal acts and leave the campus immediately. Police appeal to reporters covering the riot to mind their own safety and not to obstruct Police action. In face of the deteriorating situation, Police once again appeal to members of the public to avoid going to the vicinity of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
     

     Correctional officers at Tai Lam Centre for Women today (November 17) intercepted a female remand person in custody smuggling suspected dangerous drugs into the centre by concealing it inside her body.

     The 35-year-old person in custody was remanded in the institution for the offence of trafficking in dangerous drugs on November 8. She was suspected to have swallowed suspected dangerous drugs before admission. She was therefore separated and put under close monitoring.

     At 10.15am today, she discharged one pack of a suspected dangerous drug with a weight of 13.5 grams wrapped in plastic. The case has been reported to the Police for follow-up.

     A spokesperson for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department takes every measure to stop the introduction of dangerous drugs or unauthorised articles into correctional institutions in order to maintain good order and discipline and a drug-free environment for all persons in its custody."