As Hong Kong police and protesters clashed in Chinese University war zone, medical volunteers showed how to respond to a crisis

The Geneva Conventions stress neutrality, impartiality and independence in the delivery of humanitarian assistance

In retrospect, the scenes at Chinese University resembled a war zone. Hong Kong urgently needs an independent mediator to resolve the crisis

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Protesters at Chinese University in Sha Tin face tear gas fired by the police on November 12. Photo: Winson Wong

Darren Mann is a surgeon with clinical ballistics experience, based in Hong Kong.

Published: 9:00am, 24 Nov 2019Updated: 9:22am, 24 Nov 2019

News coverage of the confrontation between students and police at Chinese University made for gripping viewing – from the comfort of a sofa. Doctors are used to their evening entertainment being interrupted, but I knew I was in for something different after I read this message on Telegram: “Doctors needed urgently at Chinese University.”

Within a few minutes, my wife, who is a general practitioner, her best friend who is an anaesthetist, and I were driving there. The road shortly after the Lion Rock tunnel was impassable but a system of motorcycle transport was in place to ferry medical personnel.

The scene on campus had all the hallmarks of a war zone: noise, confusion, urgency, the sound of gunfire, smoke and flames. Yet, amid the mayhem, a medical disaster response system had been established.

Humanitarian medical assistance is not partisan. The Geneva Conventions stress neutrality, impartiality and independence in the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The injured — irrespective of whether they are police, protesters, members of the public or reporters – should be treated according to clinical priority.