Hong Kong protesters marched through several shopping malls Christmas day

Comes after violent clashes left a festively-decorated district shrouded in gas

The mass rallies have turned more confrontational over the festive period

'Confrontation is expected, it doesn't matter if it's Christmas,' one protester said

Mass ongoing anti-government protests in Hong Kong showed no sign of abating on Christmas day with protesters marching through several shopping malls and chanting pro-democracy slogans.

It comes a day after violent clashes with the police left a festively-decorated prime tourist district shrouded in tear gas.

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The protests, which escalated in June, have been largely peaceful for much of December after pro-democracy candidates overwhelmingly won district council elections the month before.

But Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leaders have made no concessions to the protesters, despite acknowledging their defeat in the polls, and the rallies have turned more confrontational over the festive period.

'Confrontation is expected, it doesn't matter if it's Christmas,' said Chan, a 28-year-old restaurant worker who was part of a crowd which exchanged insults with police outside a shopping centre in the Mong Kok district.

Riot police detain a protester during a demonstration in Hong Kong, Wednesday

A protester is caught in tear gas fired by police to disperse bystanders in a protest in Jordan district in Hong Kong, early on December 25

A dog wearing glasses and an antler hat stands near protesters during a demonstration in Hong Kong on Christmas day

Riot police patrolled several past protest hotspots while tourists and shoppers, many wearing Santa hats or reindeer antlers, strolled past.

A festively-clad dog wearing glasses and an antler hat was pictured close to the demonstration.

Television footage showed police pepper-spraying a man they then arrested outside a shopping centre in the densely-populated district of Mong Kok.

Riot police hold banners warning people not to take out any processions in Hong Kong on Wednesday

A Christmas card showing the "LIHKG Pig" is displayed at the entrance of a cafe, which hosted a free Christmas dinner, in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Hong Kong on December 25

People enjoy a free Christmas dinner in a cafe in Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong on December 25

People enjoy a free Christmas dinner in a cafe in Tsim Sha Tsui

Hundreds of protesters, dressed in black and wearing face masks, descended on shopping malls around the Chinese-ruled city, mixing with shoppers and shouting popular slogans such as 'Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our times!'

Most shops remained open.

On Tuesday, baton-wielding police had fired tear gas at thousands of protesters who barricaded roads, spray-painted slogans on buildings and trashed a Starbucks cafe and a HSBC branch. A water cannon truck, flanked by armoured jeeps also roamed the streets, but was not heavily used.

A man carries a child wearing a Santa Claus outfit past riot police on Christmas day

Riot police confront anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on Christmas day

Riot police point cans of pepper spray at protesters. Hundreds of protesters, dressed in black and wearing face masks, descended on shopping malls around the Chinese-ruled city, mixing with shoppers and shouting popular slogans such as 'Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our times!'

Paramedics carry a protester on a stretcher after riot police used tear smoke during a demonstration in Hong Kong

The Hospital Authority said 25 people had been injured overnight, including one man who fell from the second to first floor of a shopping mall as he tried to escape the police, and another who fell from the rooftop of a restaurant. It was unclear if the latter was related to the protests.

HSBC has become embroiled in a controversy involving a police crackdown earlier this month on a fund-raising platform supporting protesters. HSBC denied any link between the crackdown and its earlier closure of a bank account tied to the group, but remains the target of protester rage.

Starbucks has also become a target of the demonstrators' anger after the daughter of the founder of Maxim's Caterers, which owns the local franchise, publicly condemned the protesters.

Riot police check the identity of youngsters during a demonstration in Hong Kong

Riot police detain a protester during the demonstration on Christmas Day

Riot police detain a protester during the demonstration on Christmas day

A woman wearing a Santa hat walks past riot police. Riot police patrolled several past protest hotspots while tourists and shoppers, many wearing Santa hats or reindeer antlers, strolled past

Riot police detain a protester, left lying on the ground, during a demonstration

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The protests started more than six months ago against a now-withdrawn bill which would have allowed extraditions to mainland China where courts are controlled by the Communist Party.

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They have since evolved into a broader pro-democracy movement, with demonstrators angry at what they perceive as increased meddling by Beijing in the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

China denies interfering and says it is committed to the 'one country, two systems' formula put in place at that time and has blamed foreign forces for fomenting unrest.

Residents dressed for Christmas festivities react to tear gas as police confront protesters on Christmas Eve in Hong Kong on Christmas Eve

Residents react to tear gas as police and protesters confront each other on Christmas Eve in Hong Kong