Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have been cleaning up after themselves after a night of battles with police who used tear gas and pepper spray in a crackdown condemned around the world.

Thousands of people are occupying the Admiralty district of the city in continued opposition to the Chinese Government’s refusal to let them select their own candidates for leadership elections in 2017, allowing only Beijing-backed politicians to stand.

As protests continue, people have been seen distributing food and water as well as cleaning up after themselves in the famously orderly city.

At the main protest site at the city’s Government headquarters, students sorted plastic bottles for recycling even as they wore goggles and plastic sheets to protect against pepper spray.

A polite note was also seen left on a vandalised police van, apologising for the damage. "Sorry, I don't know who did this but we are not anarchists - we want democracy," it read.

The unpopular Beijing backed leader of Hong Kong, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, has urged people to leave the protests, which were declared “illegal” by China.

“We don't want Hong Kong to be messy,” he said in a statement broadcast on Monday.

Attempting to dispel rumours of intervention by the Chinese army, he added: “I hope the public will keep calm. Don't be misled by the rumours. Police will strive to maintain social order, including ensuring smooth traffic and ensuring the public safety.”

One of the key demands of the occupation is his immediate resignation, along with proper consultation on political reform to allow free and fair elections in Hong Kong with universal suffrage.

On Twitter, one supporter of the movement wrote: “Hong Kong: A city where protestors don't smash up shops, and they also clean up after themselves, yet get teargassed and pushed by the police.”

In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Show all 20 1 /20 In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Police officers reacts outside Hong Kong government complex In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests The "Umbrella Revolution": Riot police launch tear gas into the crowd as thousands of protesters surround the government headquarters in Hong Kong AP In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A man takes a picture with his mobile phone of a pro-democracy protest on Nathan Road, a major route through the heart of the Kowloon district of Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A police car is blocked by protesters after thousands of people block a main road to the financial central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Riot policemen use pepper spray to young pro-democracy activists who forced their way into Hong Kong government headquarters during a demonstration in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Police officers stand in a cloud of tear gas during a demonstration in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Protesters rest following pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Police officers stand in front of pro-democracy protesters during a demonstration in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A pro-democracy protester confronts the police during a demonstration in Hong Kong In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A shield wall of unbrellas is formed as thousands of demonstrators storm onto a highway after breaking through police cordons on 28 September Getty In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests A woman holds a protest sign at a pro-democracy protest on Nathan Road, a major route through the heart of the Kowloon district of Hong Kong AFP/Getty In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Protesters argue with a man (centre) opposing a pro-democracy demonstration as they block the Mong Kok MTR station exit next to Nathan Road AFP/Getty In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Riot police fire tear gas on protesters in the early hours of this morning AP In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Three women rest on the streets after a night of protesting AFP/Getty In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Riot police arrested scores of students who stormed the government headquarters compound GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests The dispersal followed a night of scuffles between police and about 150 protesters who forced their way into the government compound, some scaling a tall fence GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Hong Kong Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok told reporters that police acted appropriately and gave students sufficient warning GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests The scuffles came out of the end of a week-long strike by students demanding China's Communist leaders organise democratic elections in 2017 GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Hong Kong's young people have become vocal supporters of full democracy in recent years GETTY In pictures: Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong Hong Kong protests Thousands of university and college students who had spent the week boycotting classes were joined by a smaller group of high school students GETTY

Many volunteers were wearing the yellow ribbons symbolising support for democratic reform that have started appearing on street signs and at entrances to underground stations.

The movement, dubbed the Umbrella Revolution because of the widespread use of umbrellas against tear gas and pepper spray, has sparked solidarity protests around the world.