Hong Kong's Carrie Lam says violence exceeded calls for democracy, police defend officers who shot at protesters

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam addressing the media said that "the widespread violent acts (of protesters) should be condemned by the whole society. I hereby appeal to the people to recognised that the action is very destructive and could bring Hong Kong to a road of no return."

"The action of rioters has far exceeded the call for democracy and are now people's enemy. And it is incidents like that, which has seen by many local residents, making people worried and scared," Lam added. 

Hong Kong police on Monday, November 11 made a statement, defending the officer who shot live fire at a protestor, stating that his decision was in self-defence. 
 
"Two-person approached and my colleague was blocked and his waist was held on," said Chief Superintendent of Police Public Relations Branch of Kwok Pak-Chung. 

"Suddenly a man wearing black appeared...if you look at his right hand he is trying to snatch my colleague's gun with his right hand," claimed the Chief Superintendent while releasing a video clip of the incident. 

"Because of the threats from two directions, and he knew if his gun was snatched, his safety, as well as the bystanders near him, will be threatened, therefore he decided to open fire," he added. 

The protestor who was shot in the right abdomen is said to be in critical condition, according to hospital officials. 

Commenting on the traffic officer who fired three rounds, one of which hit a protester, the police said that the cause was still under investigation by the regional crime unit of Hong Kong. 

The police claim that the incident was triggered when the officer was trying to arrest a person when several other protesters surrounded him.  

"The officer pulled out his service revolver as a warning, however, the protester did not stop attempts to snatch the revolver," said officials. 

Watch: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam strongly condemns knife attack

"The officer believed it was very likely that revolver would be snatched and the consequence would be disastrous...We certainly believe our officer did not have bad intentions to hurt anyone," claimed the officials. 

Police denounced the setting of fire of a man outside Ma On Shan Plaza in the New Territories, who was allegedly in opposition with protesters. 

Videos circulating online depict a man pouring petrol on another before setting him on fire. 

Hospital Authorities confirmed the admission of a man in a critical condition with severe burns, without confirming the video. 

Hong Kong on Monday experienced rare working-hours violence amidst its 24th straight week of pro-democracy protests.  

(With input from Reuters)