HONG KONG: Police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets at protesters trying to reach the Chinese government’s liaison office.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets near Sai Wan and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong has seen eight consecutive weekends of anti-government and pro-democracy protests.

It is ranked as one of the safest cities in the world but recent protests have been followed by violent clashes between demonstrators, police and masked men wielding sticks suspected of being criminal gang members.

Demonstrations started when the Hong Kong government introduced a controversial bill that would have enabled extraditions to mainland China.

(Agencies)