Thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists forced the temporary closure of government headquarters after clashing with police. Chaos erupted as commuters made their way to work, with hundreds of protesters surrounding Admiralty Centre, which houses offices and retail outlets, in a stand-off with police.

hong kong democracy protests
Pro-democracy protesters clash with police as they try to take over Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's government complex Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Hundreds of riot police scattered the crowds in several rounds of heated clashes overnight, forcing protesters back with pepper spray and batons.

Protesters wearing protective goggles and body armour refused to leave the area and continued to press against police lines, throwing bottles, helmets and umbrellas at police.

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Police use pepper spray during clashes with pro-democracy protesters close to the chief executive office in Hong Kong Tyrone Siu/Reuters
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Police officers use pepper spray as they clash with pro-democracy protesters outside Hong Kong's government complex Chris McGrath/Getty Images
hong kong tear spray
Police use pepper spray during clashes with pro-democracy protesters Tyrone Siu/Reuters
hong kong democracy protests
Police advance on pro-democracy protesters at the Admiralty MTR station Chris McGrath/Getty Images
hong kong democracy protests
A police officer raises his baton as he restrains a protester on the ground at Tamar, near the government headquarters in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong Dale de la Rey/AFP
hong kong democracy protests
A riot police officer uses pepper spray on a pro-democracy protester Tyrone Siu/Reuters
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Riot police arrest a pro-democracy protester during clashes outside Central Government Complex Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images
hong kong democracy protests
A police officer uses a baton on a pro-democracy protester near the office of the chief executive in Hong Kong Tyrone Siu/Reuters

Scores of volunteer medics attended to numerous injured people, some of whom lay unconscious and others with blood streaming from head gashes.

Police said at least 40 arrests were made.

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A photographer is treated after pro-democracy protesters clashed with riot police outside Hong Kong government complex Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images
hong kong democracy protests
A pro-democracy protester who came into contact with pepper spray is helped by volunteers Bobby Yip/Reuters
hong kong democracy protests
A pro-democracy protester is treated after police used pepper spray Bobby Yip/Reuters
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Pro-democracy protesters use makeshift shields, including a road sign Tyrone Siu/Reuters
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A pro-democracy protester wearing goggles prepares to face the police in the Admiralty district Philippe Lopez/AFP
hong kong democracy protests
A pro-democracy protester wearing goggles and with cling film wrapped around his mouth watches as police prepare to take action Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying said police had been very tolerant but would now take "resolute action", suggesting that patience may have finally run dry.

"Some people have mistaken the police's tolerance for weakness," Leung told reporters. "I call for students who are planning to return to the occupation sites tonight not to do so."

hong kong democracy protests
Police shout at pro-democracy protesters during a rally close to the chief executive office in Hong Kong Tyrone Siu/Reuters

The protesters are demanding free elections for the city's next leader in 2017 rather than the vote between pre-screened candidates that Beijing has said it would allow.

The Hong Kong rallies drew more than 100,000 onto the streets at their peak. Numbers have since dwindled and public support for the movement has waned.

The democracy movement represents one of the biggest threats for China's Communist Party leadership since Beijing's bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy student protests in and around Tiananmen Square.

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