Hong Kong teen shot by police charged with rioting

Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Hong Kong police charged an 18-year-old student protester -- shot in the chest by an officer -- with rioting during Tuesday's violent anti-government protests.

A police officer shot Tsang Chi-kin in the chest as demonstrators clashed with police on Tuesday during protests that coincided with China's celebration of its 70th anniversary of communist rule.

Tsang, who was recovering in stable condition at the hospital after surgery, was shot in the lung about an inch and a half from his heart.

Following the shooting, the Hong Kong Police Force said the officer fired a "warning shot" at the protester who was then rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital.

The teenager was charged with one count of rioting on Thursday along with seven other men between the ages of 18 and 38. Tsang was additionally charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer and a 38-year-old man received a second charge of arson.

A total of 269 people, including 93 students, were arrested in Hong Kong on National Day as China's President Xi Jinping reiterated the country's commitment to the "peaceful reinforcement of one country, two systems" -- the political framework that Hong Kong has functioned under since it was returned to China from Britain in 1997 -- in a celebratory speech.

Police also fired at least three other live rounds as warning shots on Tuesday, along with some 1,400 canisters of tear gas and 900 rubber bullets in an attempt to quell protesters.

Hong Kong has been rocked with anti-government protests for 18 weeks with what began as unrest toward an extradition bill has evolved into a larger democracy movement against encroaching Beijing restrictions on freedoms the semi-autonomous region enjoys that the rest of the country does not.

Protesters clash with police in Hong Kong

Protesters burn a sign celebrating the 70th anniversary of China during an anti-government rally in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A massive crowd of protesters turned out for the rally. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Former politician Lee Cheuk-yan and other politicians and activists hold up five fingers to signify the five demands of their protest movement. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A family hands out folded paper doves, a symbol of peace, during a rally. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Graffiti reads "Hong Kong is Not China" during the rally on China National Day, which marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A protester runs from tear gas fired by police. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A protester runs from tear gas fired by police, who also used water cannons to disperse crowds. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A protester runs from tear gas fired by police. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A protester played the "Star-Spangled Banner" on the saxophone during a standoff with police. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A fire set by protesters burns on a Hong Kong street during a violent day of clashes. Protesters also vandalized specific targets, such as subway stations and outlets of Chinese state-owned businesses such as the Bank of China. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Police charge down the street during clashes with protesters. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A police officer yells at a citizen during an anti-government rally in Hong Kong on October 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A barricade of bricks and umbrellas is left behind by protesters. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Police hold a sign warning that they will fire tear gas during clashes with protesters. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Two days earlier, a protester is surrounded by a cloud of tear gas during an anti-government rally in Hong Kong on Sunday. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A protester picks up a tear gas cannister fired by riot police and runs with it. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Riot police fire tear gas. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Riot police arrest a protester after a violent confrontation during a rally. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Riot police arrest a protester. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A woman is upset while talking to riot police in the aftermath of a bloody confrontation with protesters. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A boy places an origami bird in a display that shows support for the anti-government protest movement. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

The paper birds were part of a large public display. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A protester places an origami bird on the display. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Medics tend to an injured protester after a violent clash with police. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A Starbucks is defaced by protesters at a rally. The coffee chain's franchise owner in Hong Kong has spoken out against the protests. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Protesters carry flags of the United Nations, Great Britain and other countries during an anti-government rally. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Police fire tear gas into a crowd of protesters. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A protester douses tear gas fired by riot police. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A fire set by protesters burns on a Hong Kong street. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A discarded umbrella rests in the middle of the street after a violent clash between police and protesters. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A fire set by protesters during an anti-government rally burns on the street. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Fliers taped to the ground ask passers-by to step on the faces of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and others. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

A girl sits underneath an overpass during a protest rally that turned violent. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo

Graffiti on a billboard in Hong Kong asks for democracy. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo