Hong Kong police on Saturday called on protesters to stick to designated routes and times after violent clashes marred the last eight weekends of rallies calling for greater rights and government accountability.
Police held a briefing ahead of a scheduled rally in Mong Kok, a bustling shopping district with a history of hosting pro-democracy protests. Any demonstrations that are not pre-approved will be "cleared out" as unlawful assemblies, police said.
Hong Kong's summer of protests, sparked by an unpopular extradition bill, has continued unabated despite the government's decision to suspend the legislation that would have sent some suspects to mainland China for trial.
While the pro-democracy rallies have been largely peaceful, they have increasingly devolved into skirmishes with police after some protesters refused to disperse at assigned times. In the past two months, protesters have vandalized buildings and thrown bricks, while police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets.
A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 under the framework of "one country, two systems."
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