Police fire tear gas to disperse thousands in central Hong Kong

Philip FONG / AFP

Several arrests have been made in Hong Kong after riot police disrupted an anti-government protest on Sunday.

Police were seen firing tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters who had started to march from a central Hong Kong park, claiming they weren't given permission to do so. 

Video footage showed protesters, wearing all-black clothing, barricade roads with umbrellas and street furniture and smashing traffic lights.

The anti-government protests, which started in June last year over a now-withdrawn extradition bill, have since broadened to include demands for democratic rights. 

So far, more than 7,000 people have been arrested, many on charges of rioting that can carry jail terms of up to 10 years.

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