Hong Kong police used tear gas for the first time since 2005 on Sunday to disperse pro-democracy
protests in the government district of the city.
Hong Kong and Chinese officials warned against illegal protests, but chanting pro-democracy
protesters converged on police barricades. The protesters' aim was to use civil disobedience
to pressure Beijing into granting full democracy to Hong Kong.
But they were greeted by police in formation five lines deep who used pepper spray, baton
charges and tear gas to scatter the crowds several hundred metres. Authorities said that
the situation was handled "in accordance with the law".
The unrest started last month when Beijing rejected demands for people to freely choose
the city's next leader, prompting activists to threaten to shut down the centre of the city.