Hong Kong protesters, police in dusk standoff after tear gas breaks up rally

SUMMARY

Hong Kong police fired volleys of tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters, many wearing banned face masks, who had converged on the Kowloon harbour-front hotel district on Sunday to denounce perceived police brutality over months of unrest.

By ReutersOct 27, 2019 4:16:44 PM IST (Published)

Anti-government demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest. Hong Kong police fired volleys of tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters, many wearing banned face masks, who had converged on the Kowloon harbour-front hotel district on Sunday to denounce perceived police brutality over months of unrest. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

A police officer gestures at an anti-government demonstrator during a protest. There was a standoff as dusk began to fall, with protesters and bemused tourists gathered on the pavements of the key shopping and hotel artery of Nathan Road, which police had earlier cleared in slow-moving cordons. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Anti-government protesters react from tear gas at Tsim Sha Tsui is in Hong Kong. Riot police stood by outside the Chungking Mansions high-rise warren of South Asian restaurants and backpacker hostels, shields and batons at the ready. Protesters shouted obscenities in colourful Cantonese at "black police", referring to perceived over-use of force by the authorities. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Police officers react during an anti-government protest in Hong Kong's tourism district of Tsim Sha Tsui. "Fight for Hong Kong!" protesters shouted, "five demands, not one less", a reference to demands for universal suffrage and an independent inquiry into police actions, among other things. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Anti-government demonstrators are seen among the tear gas during a protest in Hong Kong's tourism district of Tsim Sha Tsui. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Police officers release pepper spray during an anti-government protest in Hong Kong's tourism district of Tsim Sha Tsui. The number of protesters had grown by the minute, streaming down Nathan Road to the water's edge, facing the dramatic skyline of Hong Kong island opposite, but many fled after the tear gas and pepper spray were fired. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Police officers detain an anti-government demonstrator during a protest in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy activists have in recent weeks attacked police with petrol bombs and rocks and slashed one officer in the neck with a knife. Police have responded with tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets and occasional live rounds, wounding several protesters and a few journalists. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

A man receives medical attention after being affected with a pepper spray during an anti-government protest in Hong Kong. REUTERS/Umit Bektas