Hong Kong saw its first weekend without tear gas in weeks, even as anti-government protesters brought streets to a standstill on Sunday as hundreds of thousands of people marched despite police objection.

Protesters marched from Victoria Park, where a rally had been called by pan-democratic group Civil Human Rights Front, for 6 km (3.7 miles) to Sheung Wan district, overflowing from several major roads into side streets.

The march appeared to be one of the largest since demonstrations began on 9 June, in a sign that much of Hong Kong is unwilling to stand down even after protests edge close to three months with little government response.

Civil Human Rights Front, a broad coalition of pro-democracy groups, claimed more than 1.7 million had attended the demonstration but figures were difficult to calculate as protesters moved in two directions and often into side streets on an unsanctioned march.

Hong Kong police said 128,000 people attended the rally at its peak on Sunday.

Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Show all 35 1 /35 Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Police officers point their guns towards pro-democracy protesters after a clash at a march in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Pro-democracy protesters throw molotov cocktails during clashes with riot police in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Demonstrators rally behind barricades ass they are shrouded in tear gas deployed by police in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Police clash withpro-democracy protesters at a march in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures A police officer prepares to strike a protester as clashes erupt during a pro-democracy march in Hong Kong on August 24 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures A water cannon is fired by riot police to clear the street of demonstrators during a protest in Hong Kong on August 25 EPA Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Pro-democracy protesters use a slingshot during clashes with riot police in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Riot police fire tear gas to disperse pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on August 24 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures A demonstrator throws a molotov cocktail as they clash with riot police during a protest in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures A demonstrator swings a tennis racket in an attempt to knock back a tear gas cannister thrown by riot police during a protest in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures A protester displays a Hong Kong Independence flag during a pro-democracy march in Hong Kong on August 24 EPA Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Riot police tend to a detained demonstrator who has been injured during a protest in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures A demonstrator uses bamboo poles to build a barricade during a protest in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Riot police clash with demonstrators during a protest in Hong Kong on August 24 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Protesters are hit by tear gas fired by the police in Hong Kong on August 24 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Demonstrators shrouded in tear gas shield themselves behind barricades during a clash with riot police in Hong Kong on August 25 Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Riot police arrest a protester during a pro-democracy march in Hong Kong on August 24 EPA Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Police clash with pro-democracy protesters at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Protesters fall back as they clash with police during a protest at Kowloon Bay in Hong Kong on August 24 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Police clash with pro-democracy protesters at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Riot police move to disperse protesters during a clash at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Commuters riding in a bus drive past protesters in Hong Kong's Kowloon Bay on August 24 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Protester hold umbrellas as they take part in a pro-democracy march in Hong Kong on August 24 EPA Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Riot police detain a demonstrator as they clash during a protest in Hong Kong on August 24 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Pro-democracy protesters block the entrance to the airport terminals after clashes with police at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Riot police spray pepper spray as shield themselves by a police van during a clash with pro-democracy protesters at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Riot police use pepper spray to disperse protesters during a demonstration at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Demonstrators shrouded in tear gas shield themselves behind barricades during a clash with riot police in Hong Kong on August 25 Reuters Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Medical professionals gather to protest police brutality at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong on August 13 Getty Images Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Police detain a pro-democracy protester at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures A protester is halted by police during an occupation at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 AP Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Police clash with pro-democracy protesters at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Police stand guard at the entrance of the departure terminals at the Hong Kong international airport on August 13 AFP/Getty Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Protesters continue their occupation at the Hong Kong international airport on August 14 AP Continuing protests rock Hong Kong: In pictures Travellers read placards and posters left by pro-democracy protesters at the Hong Kong international airport on August 14 AP

Civil Human Rights Front said the march was as much against a legislative bill that would have allowed for residents to stand trial in mainland China – which was suspended but not permanently shelved in June – as it was against “Chinese-style repression” by police.

“We want to gather the most Hong Kongers, and, using peaceful, rational, and nonviolent means, unite in spirit and action to express our indignation against police brutality, as well as display Hong Kongers’ firm resolve,” coalition convener Wong Yik Mo said in a statement.

By 2.30 pm on Sunday, half an hour before the rally was due to begin, it was clear that it would be the largest in weeks as tens of thousands struggled to enter the park and public transit networks were overloaded with black-clad protesters.

Scores of people remained chanting on the streets eight hours later, shining laser pointers on the central government headquarters and chanting slogans.

“We want to show the government and the rest of the world we can [protest] peacefully. We aren’t always into violent means of protesting. We hope the government can listen to us and hear our voice and understand that what we want is [peace],” said Kevin Poon, a protester and university employee, while marching through a major shopping district.

“To some extent it’s also a protest against the current system that we have where it’s undemocratic and the government is unaccountable to its people,” he said.

The march was reminiscent of two peaceful rallies called by Civil Human Rights Front in June that drew 1 and 2 million people, according to organiser estimates, although on Sunday protesters braved heavy rain instead of heat and humidity.

It was attended, crucially, by thousands of ordinary residents as opposed to more radical student and youth protesters who have headlined recent demonstrations, including an occupation of Hong Kong International Airport last week.

Sunday showed as well that the public was still united against the government and leader Carrie Lam, who sparked protests in early June when she attempted to push the extradition bill through the legislature.

Police fire rubber bullets on Hong Kong protesters

Many residents feared the bill would mean the end of Hong Kong’s semi-autonomy, promised under the “one country, two systems” arrangement with China until 2047. As a former British colony, Hong Kong has many rights and freedoms not found in mainland China but protesters have said they are now under attack.

While Ms Lam has told protesters she would not pursue the bill further after mass demonstrations at the beginning of the summer, many do not believe her and have become increasingly angry with escalating police violence.

Chants on Sunday included calls for the “five demands” of protesters which have remained much the same since June, such as for Ms Lam to step down and the government to initiative an investigation into police violence.

Hong Kong police have come under international criticism for their excessive use of tear gas and rubber bullets in situations where they were not under threat from protesters, sometimes firing as well on unprotected bystanders and journalists.

“As the movement grows bigger and bigger, the aim of it changes along with it and we have our five basic goals we want to achieve. Police brutality is definitely one of the most significant issues we want to focus on,” said protester Ashrit Gurung, who carried a sign saying “an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind.”

In a statement on Sunday, the Hong Kong government, however, continued to maintain its line that police violence has been largely a response to protester actions.

The government said that “violent protester repeatedly charged police cordon lines, deliberately blocked roads, vandalised public facilities, set fire in various locations, attacked police officers with offensive weapons, and threw bricks and petrol bombs” over 75 times in the past 11 weeks, injuring 180 officers.