Police in Hong Kong fired tear gas and arrested 360 people as thousands took to the streets on Wednesday in anger over China's proposed national security legislation, which has raised international alarm over freedoms in the city.
In the middle of the financial district, riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. In other places, police have surrounded groups of protesters, forcing them to sit on sidewalks before searching their belongings.
Later in the afternoon, protesters were still lining the streets, calling for full democracy and for Hong Kong to seek independence from China, saying "it's the only way out."
A heavy police presence around the Legislative Council has not allowed protesters to disrupt debate on a bill that would criminalize any disrespect for China's national anthem. The bill is expected to be passed into law next month.
Angry at the jeopardy of liberties in the semi-autonomous city, people of all ages have taken to the streets.
"Although you are afraid, you still see in your heart the need to come out and express your opinion", said 29-year-old Chang.
Protests and clashes in Hong Kong
Many shops, banks and offices have closed early.
The latest protests follow the Chinese government's proposal for national security legislation aimed at combating secession, subversion and terrorism in Hong Kong. The planned laws could allow Chinese intelligence agencies to set up headquarters in Hong Kong.
The proposal, unveiled by Beijing last week, sparked the first major protests in Hong Kong in months on Sunday.
The US, the European Union, the UK and others have expressed concern about the legislation.
But Chinese authorities and the Beijing-backed Hong Kong government have said there is no threat to the city's autonomy.
Protesters have said they will continue to fight the law, with more protests planned in the coming weeks, including on June 4, the 31st anniversary of the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in Beijing by the Chinese authorities.
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he certified to the US Congress on Wednesday that Hong Kong does not continue to receive special treatment under US law in the same way it did when the territory it was still under British law before July 1997.
"No reasonable person can claim today that Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy from China, given the facts on the ground," Pompeo said.
