HONG KONG - The Latest on the protests in Hong Kong (all times local):

11:30 p.m.

Chinese President Xi Jinping says ending violence by what he calls “violent criminals” and restoring order is Hong Kong’s most pressing task.

The official Xinhua News Agency says the Chinese leader made the comments Thursday while attending the BRICS summit in Brazil.

Xi was quoted as saying the Chinese government will continue to support Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, the police and the courts.

Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous Chinese territory that is in its sixth month of anti-government protests.

Protesters believe China is eroding the city’s freedoms and legal system and say the police have used excessive force in suppressing the demonstrations.

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1:40 p.m.

Australia has expressed deep concern about the violence in Hong Kong and the “increasing divide between the authorities and Hong Kong people.”

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it was crucial that police and protesters exercise restraint and take genuine steps to deescalate tensions.

Payne’s statement also said it was “essential that the police respond proportionately to protests.”

Hong Kong has been troubled by more than five months of anti-government protests that have been escalating in violence.

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12:50 p.m.

Police say protesters shot an arrow at officers patrolling near Hong Kong Polytechnic University, then threw flower pots from a height when other officers arrived.

Police responded with tear gas Thursday, and protesters fired arrows again. They shot arrows a third time later in the morning. None of the officers have been injured.

Police say they seized six arrows at the scene.

Students and other protesters have holed up at Hong Kong’s major university campuses this week, building defences in preparation for possible attempts to flush them out.

Pro-democracy protests have riven Hong Kong, and divided its people, for more than five months.

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10:35 a.m.

Hong Kong residents are enduring a fourth day of traffic snarls and mass transit disruptions as protesters closed some major arteries and rail networks while police skirmished with militant students at major universities.

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Life in this city of 7.5 million has been under strain as thousands of commuters were unable to make it to work and the government appealed on Thursday for employers to show flexibility.

Riot police fired tear gas during standoffs with students at Polytechnic University. Militant protesters have hurled gasoline bombs and thrown objects off bridges during clashes at university campuses this week. Chinese University suspended classes for the rest of the year, and others asked students to switch to online learning.

Pro-democracy protests have riven Hong Kong, and divided its people, for more than five months.