Hong Kong police gets tough as black-clad protesters return to streets

People wearing face masks as a precautionary measure against the spread of the Covid-19, walking down a street decorated with Chinese lanterns in Hong Kong on Saturday (Feb 29). But at the city centre, Hong Kong police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of black-clad protesters, some armed with petrol bombs, during a rally to mark six months since the authorities stormed a subway station and arrested demonstrators. - AFP

HONG KONG: Hong Kong police fired tear gas on Saturday (Feb 29) to disperse hundreds of black-clad protesters, some armed with petrol bombs, during a rally to mark six months since the authorities stormed a subway station and arrested demonstrators.

The latest clashes are among the most violent to roil the Chinese-ruled city after a period of relative calm following intense anti-government protests that escalated in June last year, with fears over coronavirus keeping many residents indoors.