Thousands of protesters in Hong Kong have again swarmed city streets and temporarily blocked main roads and a tunnel crossing in the ninth consecutive weekend of protests that have triggered a political crisis in the financial hub.

By Saturday night protesters appeared to be arming themselves in preparation for another standoff with police. In the weeks since protests have erupted demonstrators have clashed regularly with police, who have used tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds to clear protesters, who have grown increasingly prepared for violence, some carrying shields and wearing body armour.

The demonstration began this afternoon at a park in Mong Kok, a densely populated area in Kowloon. The area has been the scene of violence in the past, including during the