Joshua Wong, 22, confronted officers in the Kowloon district last night as they cleared the streets of anti-government protesters

The Hong Kong democracy leader Joshua Wong has lambasted the senior British police officer who has become a symbol of the suppression of anti-government demonstrations.

Chief Superintendent Rupert Dover, a British-born officer in the Hong Kong police, has been in command on two occasions when police have used force to disperse rowdy groups of demonstrators campaigning against a proposed new extradition law. Last night he was confronted by Mr Wong on the streets after riot police used batons to clear protesters who lingered after a largely peaceful demonstration in the Kowloon district.

“Rupert Dover, you are British, and [yet] you serve the interests of Beijing,” Mr Wong shouted at Mr Dover, who was guarded by a phalanx of officers.

Writing on Twitter today Mr Wong