An 18-year-old man who was shot with a live round by police was arrested for assaulting an officer, police commissioner Stephen Lo Wai Chung said.

The man is still receiving treatment in hospital, the commissioner told reporters.

Lo said he believed police, who fired six shots on Tuesday, exercised restraint, but added that they will further investigate. Police will also decide whether to bring charges at a later time.

“The police by that moment didn’t have much choice and time to make decision [to use other less harmful weapons], his colleague was in serious danger, the decision of shooting a live round is therefore legal and reasonable,” Lo said.

Lo criticized demonstrators, saying their only objective was to vandalize and injure citizens.

“Today is a really sad for me," he said.