Violent clashes erupted in Hong Kong on Wednesday as police fired rubber bullets to prevent protesters from storming the city’s parliament and tens of thousands snarled traffic to demand leaders scrap a plan to allow extraditions to China.

Rows of riot police used tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and batons to disperse demonstrators shortly after 3pm, the deadline crowds had given the government to abandon a contentious extradition bill. Matthew Cheung, the city’s chief secretary, also called on protesters to retreat in the first official reaction to the protests.

But many stood their ground, shielding themselves with face masks, helmets, goggles and umbrellas.

By late morning, with crowds swelling and major roads blocked by throngs of protesters, officials in the Legislative Council (Legco) said they would delay the second reading of the bill "to a later date".

“Giving into China with this bill will open all sorts of meddling from Beijing, “ said Frank Ng, 34, a clerk, who was protesting with his parents, both in their sixties. “It’ll just get more oppressive. We need to defend our right to legislate ourselves independently.”