ANTI-CHINA rioters battled police outside university campuses and blocked the morning commute today in a further day of violence in Hong Kong.

Protesters littered roads with bricks and threw rubbish on railway lines to prevent trains running. Metro stations were closed and staff accompanied commuters walking to work along the tracks.

Trams and buses were unable to make progress through crowds in the central business district, with a bus driver and passengers abandoning their vehicle when a window was smashed in. 

One video that has gone viral shows demonstrators chase down a young woman who had criticised their actions, spray a fire extinguisher over her and then beat her with sticks until her head bleeds. They chased her as she tried to flee until passers-by intervened, pleading “she’ll die.”

Outside the Chinese University demonstrators mounted barricades, including a burning car, but were charged by police who fired tear gas at them. There were numerous arrests.

The man set alight by protesters at the weekend is in hospital in critical condition, authorities said. A protester who was shot in the stomach while rushing at a police officer also remained in hospital in “serious” condition.

Police spokesman Kong Wing-cheung said the burning was being treated as attempted murder and called for anyone with information on the assailants to come forward.

“Hong Kong’s rule of law has been pushed to the brink of total collapse,” he said.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam praised workers who were “holding fast and refusing to concede to violence.

“I hereby express my gratitude to those who are still going to work and school today.”