German Chancellor Angela Merkel has today pleaded for the 'rights and freedoms' of Hong Kong residents to be protected following months of political unrest and violent clashes.

Merkel, on a visit to Beijing, met with Chinese premier Li Keqiang and stressed that a peaceful solution is needed following 14 weeks of demonstrations.

Military trucks and armed personnel were today parked at the Shenzhen Bay stadium in the city bordering Hong Kong as anti-government protests waged on in the former British colony.

Police fired rubber bullets, pepper spray and tear gas at hundreds of activists outside Prince Edward station in Mong Kok who barricaded themselves using umbrellas and bonfires.

Merkel, on a visit to Beijing, met with Chinese premier Li Keqiang on Friday as she pleaded for a peaceful solution to months of violence and chaos

Protesters have also threatened to block transport links to the airport and bring it to a standstill this weekend in their fight for democracy.

Embattled leader Carrie Lam's withdrew the controversial extradition bill on Wednesday that first triggered mass protests on the streets.

But the move failed to ease unrest, as activists deemed the move 'too little, too late' and vowed to keep fighting for their freedom until all of their demands are satisfied.

'I stressed that the rights and freedoms for (Hong Kong) citizens have to be granted,' Merkel said during a visit to Beijing.

Military trucks and armed personnel were today parked at the Shenzhen Bay stadium in the city bordering Hong Kong

Riot police walk next to a street barricade during a demonstration in Mong Kok district in Hong Kong

Angela Merkel criticised for touting German businesses on trip to China German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been criticised for touting businesses on a trip to China amid mass anti-government protests and political unrest in Hong Kong. Merkel arrived in China on Thursday with a large business delegation in tow, including Volkswagen, Allianz and Deutsche Bank. Leaders in China used the visit as a chance to strengthen ties between Berling and Beijing. China is one of Germany's largest trading partners, buying $100billion German exports in 2017. Xinhua news agency said there is 'an urgent need for Germany and China to safeguard an open global economy.' But her visit to discuss comes amid anti-government protests that have waged for 14 weeks. Advertisement

'In the current situation violence must be prevented. Only dialogue helps. There are signs that Hong Kong's chief executive will invite such a dialogue. I hope that materialises and that demonstrators have the chance to participate within the frame of citizens' rights,' she said.

Li told a news conference with Merkel: 'The Chinese government unswervingly safeguards 'one country, two systems' and 'Hong Kong people govern Hong Kong people''.

He said Beijing supported the Hong Kong government 'to end the violence and chaos in accordance with the law, to return to order, which is to safeguard Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability'.

Protesters plan to block traffic to the city's international airport on Saturday, a week after thousands of demonstrators disrupted transport links, sparking some of the worst violence since the unrest escalated three months ago.

Many protesters have pledged to fight on despite a withdrawal of the extradition bill, as they demand the government set up an independent panel to investigate the alleged police violence against demonstrators, which Lam has firmly refused.

Riot police advance to disperse protesters attending a rally against police's violence at Mong Kok amid protests

Protesters set up bonfire and use umbrellas to barricade themselves against police

The move failed to ease unrest as activists deemed the move 'too little, too late' and vowed to keep fighting for their freedom until all of their demands are satisfied

German Chancellor Angela Merkel shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at Xi's guesthouse in Beijing

Several activist groups say they won't give up on their other four key demands with rallies planned on Friday evening across the city, at sites such as subway stations and near government headquarters.

The extradition bill, which would have allowed people in the former British colony to be sent to mainland China for trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party, triggered mass protests that have since widened into a backlash against the Hong Kong government and its political masters in Beijing.

The massive, and sometimes violent, protests present Chinese President Xi Jinping with his greatest popular challenge since he came to power in 2012.

Authorities also say the turmoil has weighed on Hong Kong's economy, which faces its first recession in a decade. There is evidence some funds are being moved to rival financial centres, such as Singapore.

Police officers charge on a street to disperse protesters outside of Po Lam Station at wee hours

A protester is detained by police outside of Po Lam Station as the city's unrest continues

German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a visit to the ZF Powertrain company in Beijing

Hong Kong's pro-Beijing chief executive Carrie Lam announced her decision to formally withdrawn an extradition bill that sparked the protests in a television announcement yesterday

On Friday, ratings agency Fitch downgraded Hong Kong's credit rating, citing the continued unrest.

Police have fired tear gas, rubber bullets, bean bag rounds and water cannons at protesters, who have retaliated with petrol bombs and bricks in running battles across the densely populated city of 7.4 million.

The protesters' three other demands are: retraction of the word 'riot' to describe rallies, release of all demonstrators arrested and the right for Hong Kong people to vote for their own leaders.

Protesters open umbrellas, a symbol of the anti-government movement, in Po Lam Station

Many residents fear Beijing is eroding the autonomy granted to Hong Kong when it was handed back to China in 1997.

China denies the charge of meddling and says Hong Kong is an internal affair. It has denounced the protests, warning of the damage to the economy and the possible use of force to quell the unrest.

Legislation addressing China's actions in Hong Kong will be among the top priorities pushed by U.S. Senate Democrats when Congress returns to work after a recess next week, their leader said on Thursday.