People react

The considerable disruption sparked a reaction from regular Hong Kong people. A large group volunteered to clear debris and wreckage left by rioters. Traffic on most thoroughfares, including Tolo Highway, have been gradually resumed on Saturday.

"Their heart-touching actions show their love for Hong Kong and inject positive energy into society," a Hong Kong government spokesman said in a press release issued late Saturday evening.

Hundreds of local residents also cleared Pok Fu Lam Road near the University of Hong Kong, another base for rioters. However, a group of masked people, clad in black, disrupted the clean-up activity and firebombed the event from an adjacent platform. Luckily, no one was hurt.

The government appealed to members of the public to be careful and strongly condemned rioters' dangerous acts, according to the spokesman.

The event also saw the participation of foreigners. Brian, an American working in the finance sector, brought his girlfriend to this event.

Describing the acts of protesters as "insane", he said many of them have been blinded by hatred. "They are turning people against themselves," he said.

Fred, an American teacher who took part in the event, cheered and applauded when vehicles finally passed through the area.

He said he could not understand the protesters' motives behind setting barricades at their school, adding those students have lost their minds and are playing war games with themselves.

"I love Hong Kong, but not sure whether they like it," he said.