HONG KONG: Police in Hong Kong fired several tear gas shells in a shopping district as people took to the streets to march against Beijing’s proposed tough national security legislation for Hong Kong.

Pro-democracy supporters in the city have criticized China’s proposal to enact a national security law which they claim would ban secessionist and subversive activity.

This, as observers say, goes against the ‘one country, two systems’ framework.

Protesters clad in black gathered in Causeway Bay, a popular shopping district in Hong Kong, to protest the proposed legislation.

They shouted slogans “Liberate Hong Kong”, “Stand with Hong Kong,” and “Revolution of our times.”

Democratic activist Tam Tak-chi was arrested for what police said was an unauthorized assembly.

According to Tam, he was giving a ‘health talk’.

The protests were held two days after the proposed bill was submitted on Friday at the China’s national legislative session.

(With inputs from Agencies)