Pro-democracy protesters obstructed access to the Hong Kong airport on Sunday after police arrested dozens the night before and deployed water cannon and tear gas in response to activists lobbing petrol bombs and bricks.

Activists snarled road and rail links, erecting barriers and flooding stations en route to the airport, while shouting: “Stand with Hong Kong, fight for freedom!” Others drove slowly on purposes to hinder traffic.

Some built barricades outside the airport, dispersing in a flash when riot police charged and aggressively pinned people down to make arrests.

The plan was to re-create mass chaos last seen in mid-August when a five-day occupation of the airport – one of the world’s busiest transport hubs – led to hundreds of flight cancellations.

Scenes briefly turned violent when protesters assaulted two men from mainland China and clashed with riot police.

“The Hong Kong airport is extremely important to the city in terms of the economy, and tourism,” said Toby Pun, 23. “I hope this will force the government to respond.”