'We're still here': Hong Kong protesters return to streets

Thousands of pro-democracy protesters hit the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday for the 10th weekend in a row, once again defying police after a night of "hit-and-run" rallies across the city.

Activists calling for greater democratic freedoms in the city have shown no sign of standing down, despite Hong Kong's leader insisting she will not meet their demands.

Early Sunday afternoon, hundreds of protesters were gathered in the city's Victoria Park, braving hot and humid conditions and a police ban on the demonstration following a planned march route from the park.

"The police should try their best to maintain public security instead of rejecting our request to march," said a 25-year-old protester who gave only her family name, Wong.

"We're still here... and we'll see if we feel like marching later. We won't worry that much about illegal assembly. We still have our rights," she told AFP.

Police have given protesters a permit to gather at the park, but denied their request to stage a march through an eastern part of Hong Kong Island. They also denied protesters a permit for a second protest in the city's working class neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po, but a rally was also underway there.

"It will be no good for Hong Kong if everyone is scared and no one dares to come out," Wong said. "We should have freedom from fear."
On Friday she ruled out concessions "in order to silence the violent protesters," saying what the city needed was "to stop the violence."
On Saturday, she addressed students at Hong Kong army cadets camp and warned that the city was "suffering from external worries and internal perils, and the risk of an economic downturn is very high."