Police in Hong Kong fire tear gas at protesters after storming government HQ
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Police officers in Hong Kong fired tear gas at protesters as they cleared hundreds of people gathered by government headquarters in the city.
Crowds of demonstrators had earlier stormed the Legislative Council Building, smashing windows and prying opening steel security gates to gain entry.
Once inside, the protesters scrawled graffiti across the main chamber’s walls, on the 22nd anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule.
They tore down portraits hanging in the main chamber and stood on legislators’ desks while inside.
The protesters’ entered the chamber at around 9pm and the city’s police force declared its intention to clear the building in a statement issued at 10.30pm.
Turbulent protests continue in Hong Kong: In pictures
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A spokesperson warned that the authorities would use appropriate force to deal with the protesters.
Officers then fired pepper spray and used several canisters of tear gas against the crowds.
Some protesters used umbrellas to protect themselves from the onslaught, while others fled.
The police officers, clad in full riot gear, cleared the legislature and the surrounding area shortly after midnight.
The protest is the third major one to occur in as many weeks, as public anger intensifies over Hong Kong’s extradition bill.
Protesters fear that the bill, which would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party, is a threat to the city’s rule of law.
They are demanding that the bill, which has been suspended, be completely scrapped.
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Demonstrators are also calling for the resignation of Carrie Lam, Hong’s Kong’s leader.
Ms Lam said earlier Monday that she would do a better job of listening to the voices of young people, but she has resisted calls to step down.
Additional reporting by agencies
If you would like to see how the Hong Kong protests unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below
Hundreds of protesters have stormed Hong Kong's legislature tearing down portraits of legislative leaders and spray-painting pro-democracy slogans.
Thousands marched towards the building on Monday, as public anger continued over the suspended extradition bill.
Demonstrators fear that the bill, which would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party, is a threat to the city’s rule of law. They are demanding that it is completely scrapped.
Police officers have fired tear gas at the protesters in an attempt to disperse the crowds.
Police officers estimate 190,000 people marched on Monday, during the third major protest in as many weeks.
Organisers estimated the number at 550,000.
Many demonstrators are using umbrellas to protect themselves from tear gas and pepper spray, which are being used by police officers to disperse the crowds.
Hong Kong's police force have started clearing protesters from the city's legislature.
The crackdown began at midnight. Riot police officers, clutching shields and wearing protective gear, marched through Hong Kong's financial district as they cleared the crowds.
Authorities earlier said they would use appropriate force if they encountered resistance.
They asked unrelated protesters to leave the area around the legislature.
Police officers are firing tear gas and pepper spray as they engage in running battles with protesters.
Some demonstrators carried road signs, others corrugated iron sheets and pieces of scaffolding, as they barged into the legislative council building.
The protesters' graffiti called for Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to step down, while pictures of some lawmakers were defaced.
The government has called for an immediate end to the violence, saying it had stopped work on amendments to the suspended extradition bill and that the legislation would automatically lapse in July next year.
This was the scene earlier today when protesters attempted to storm the legislature.
A small group, mostly composed of students wearing hard hats, used a metal trolley, poles and scaffolding to charge again and again at the reinforced glass doors, which eventually gave.
Jeremy Hunt, the UK's foreign secretary, has said Britain will remain "unwavering" in its support for Hong Kong. as China warned London not to interfere in the affairs of its former colony.
Mr Hunt earlier issued a statement reiterating support for the Sino-British joint declaration - originally agreed in 1984 - which is supposed to guarantee Hong Kong significant autonomy.
"No violence is acceptable but HK people MUST preserve right to peaceful protest exercised within the law, as hundreds of thousands of brave people showed today," Mr Hunt said on Twitter, as demonstrators marched in the city.
China issued a sharp rebuke after Mr Hunt's remarks on the 1984 treaty emerged.
A spokesman said the UK needed to"know its place and stop interfering" in what was a "purely internal affair" for China.
The spokesman added that Beijing was "extremely dissatisfied" with the way the UK had "continuously gesticulated" about Hong Kong.
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