Police fire rubber bullets, tear gas in violent clash with protesters in Hong Kong

Chaotic scenes were witnessed in the western part of Hong Kong island late Sunday night after protesters and policemen clashed near China’s main representative office.

Reports say Hong Kong police fired rubber-coated rounds and volleys of tear gas after thousands of pro-democracy protesters gathered near China’s main representative office despite an appeal by authorities to people to stay indoors with their windows shut.

The police had a tough time pushing demonstrators back and away from the Chinese government’s liaison office and a police station as the protesters fought back with bricks and rudimentary weapons.

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“We strongly condemn the radical protesters who disregarded the law and order and violently breached the public peace,” the Hong Kong goverment said in a statement. “We will continue to give full support to the police to strictly enforce the law to stop all violent behaviours.”

Arrests were also made by specially trained riot squad members, known as “Raptor” squads, with dozens of the detainees being young men and women.

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