Hong Kong police display fake press licenses they seized from radical protesters on Monday's press conference. Photo: Yang Sheng/GT 

After taking what appears to be markedly more effective measures against rioters over the weekend, Hong Kong police on Monday denounced those who glorify violence, saying they were actually indulging actions that wreak havoc upon Hong Kong.

At least 100 petrol bombs were hurled by rioters in Hong Kong on Saturday night, which could burn for a long time and cause significant damage, said Mak Chin-ho, Assistant Commissioner of Hong Kong Police (Operations). 

Hong Kong police fired 241 rounds of tear gas, 92 rubber bullets, one cloth bag bullet and 10 sponge bullets, Mak said. Before the press conference, the police displayed some petrol bombs or Molotov cocktails and some fake press cards seized from rioters to the media. 

A video at the conference showed how police helped and protected Hong Kong residents and tourists in response to crimes. 

According to Mak, 159 people were arrested for illegal assembly, possessing offensive weapons and assaulting police between Friday and Sunday. A total of 1,117 people were arrested since June. 

Two police officers were injured in the weekend operation. An officer was surrounded and beaten by rioters with iron rods, causing bleeding and bruising. Another officer was hit by a slingshot on the leg. Both officers have been discharged from hospital, the police said.

The fire services department received eight fire alarms on Saturday and six on Sunday, which threatened the safety of Hong Kong residents, tourists and journalists, Chan Derek Armstrong, deputy chief fire officer (headquarters) of the fire services department said.  

 "Vile rumors"  were spreading on social media and some media outlets that seriously framed the credit of the police, Tse Chun-chung, chief superintendent of Hong Kong police public relations, said at the press conference.

The fake news and rumors were suggesting that rioters who threw petrol bombs and carried pistol-like objects on Saturday were actually undercover police officers.

But the pistol-like objects were not police-use pistols at all, Tse noted. No police officer would act illegally during law enforcement, let alone engage in illegal and dangerous behaviors like throwing petrol bombs.

Tse also denied death at Prince Edward Station, saying the station was closed for operation against illegal behaviors of protesters.