Pro-democracy activists shut down parts of downtown Hong Kong on October 1, 2014. Now they're battling police outside the government headquarters. UPI/Stephen Shaver | License Photo

HONG KONG, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A mob of pro-democracy protesters wielding umbrellas battled Hong Kong police armed with batons and tear gas outside the main government building Monday.

The confrontation was ignited just days after police destroyed one of three camps established by protesters over the last two months.


The protest began with a rally and student leaders urging demonstrators to storm administrative offices to force concessions to their demands for democratic elections.

Police charged protesters as they poured into a major road leading to the headquarters of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

By early Monday, some 40 people had been arrested. Many more arrests are expected.

The volatile confrontation marked a new escalation in the conflict that has seen protests surge, then fade, and China refraining from a violent crackdown against activists.

The activists are demanding that the people of Hong Kong be allowed to choose their leader in democratic elections, but Chinese officials have said they will choose acceptable candidates.