Hong Kong police fired tear gas and pepper spray on Sunday as tens of thousands of black-clad protesters took to the streets after a week-long break to turn up pressure on the government.
The demonstration started peacefully on the Hung Hom harbourfront and followed a route approved by police, according to the newspaper South China Morning Post.
More protesters wearing protective gear joined the rally when it entered the Tsim Sha Tsui tourist district. As the march stumbled into police cordons blue flags were raised to warn them.
The elite Raptor police force moved in to disperse hardened protesters. Pepper spray and tear gas were used when marchers threw bottles of water and other objects at them.
Demonstrators have been calling on the local government to act on their demands that include an independent probe into police brutality, long after it scrapped an extradition bill that angered the people in June.