A protester in Hong Kong was shot by police on Monday morning as calls for a general strike from anti-government demonstrators led to a heavy police presence and transport chaos across the Chinese territory.

Police confirmed live fire was used and one man had been shot in Sai Wan Ho, a neighbourhood on Hong Kong island, after earlier saying at least two demonstrators had been hit by live fire. The Hospital Authority said one person was in a critical condition following a gun shot wound.

Riot police fired multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse a flash mob of hundreds of office workers in the heart of Hong Kong’s financial district, sending people fleeing into luxury shopping malls for safety. Businesses, including shops and bank branches, were closed.