Inside the station it’s serious business as some protesters get kitted out. Some are carrying bamboo poles, others makeshift shields made from foam bodyboards, others are handing out masks. Knowing that the authorities could potentially track their movements on the public transportation cards, a few people are standing by ticket turnstile at the ready for anyone arriving clad in black.

Outside, throngs of protesters gathered to block traffic while pointing lasers at apartment windows, saying those inside had dropped things on protesters earlier.

Nearby, 33-year-old Mr Cheung, a hotel employee who declined to give his full name, said he witnessed an earlier attack just past 8 pm local time on protesters by men dressed in white .

“Some of the residents told us, 20 of so guys in white shirts holding rods were standing at this junction. The information spread quickly over Telegram … some of the protesters headed to the police station they came back. Both of us [protesters and men in white] shouted at each other, and they rushed towards us and clung to the barricades and beat us. Then, when more of us came, they ran up that uphill road and into the building and are hiding … Residents say they’re the gangsters from Fujian and told us to leave, but as you can see the protesters are staying to defend and prevent them from coming back.”