As the academic year started, thousands of students took to the streets the previous day to call for more democratic freedoms from Beijing.

Early in the day, activists disrupted train services at different stations causing major rush-hour traffic delays.

Over the weekend, some protesters set fires and threw Molotov cocktails while officers used tear gas and water cannon against the crowd.

The protests started with calls for the government to scrap a bill that would allow the extradition of criminal suspects in Hong Kong to mainland China, but the movement has widened to include demands for greater democracy in the Chinese-ruled city, which is facing its biggest political crisis in decades.

Reuters reported on September 2 that the city’s leader, Carrie Lam, told business leaders last week that she had caused ‘unforgivable havoc’ by introducing the extradition bill that is now suspended.

Lam said she would resign if she had a choice, according to Reuters.

A spokesman for Lam said her office would not comment on private meetings.

Based on reporting by DPA, Reuters, and South China Morning Post