Riot officers carrying shields have chased protesters through a busy district in Hong Kong to end a brief stand-off outside a police station.

Pro-democracy protesters gathered outside the station in Mong Kok after an approved rally ended on Saturday evening.

Videos and photos posted to social media showed demonstrators pointing lasers as they passed the officers standing guard, and throwing eggs in the same direction.

Image: Officers chased protesters away from the police station in Mong Kok

Image: Police officers react to taunts from protesters gathered outside Mong Kok police station

Local reporters said other participants had also taunted the officers by shouting: "Where is your tear gas?"

But following a brief stand-off - which included the police enacting a blue warning to indicate the demonstration had crossed legal lines - officers rushed toward the demonstrators to scatter the crowd.


Hong Kong-based writer Rich Scotford, who was at the scene, said the officers' tactic appeared to work, as people quickly left the area.

He wrote on Twitter: "They proved they don't need huge amounts of tear gas to do it."

As the protesters left, they chanted encouragement of attending another protest planned for Sunday at Victoria Park.

Image: Police officers stand guard outside Mong Kok police station

Image: Riot police warn protesters at Mong Kok police station to clear the area

Thousands of people took part in the start of the city's eleventh week of demonstrations on Saturday, despite poor weather threatening to water log low-level and poor-drainage areas.

Black-clad teachers kicked off the first of three day's planned demonstrations, by marching to the home of chief executive Carrie Lam to demand democratic reforms and a halt to police brutality in future rallies.

Carrying signs that read: "Protect the next generation" and chanting: "Don't shoot our children", the group marched in a show of solidarity with protesters, many of whom are students.

Image: Teachers march to Government House to demand authorities listen to the protesters' demands

It comes in response to recent unrest in which riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets - letting off rounds in an underground station and using "snatch squads" disguised as protesters to detain people - to clear the crowds.

Speaking to Sky News, teacher Winnie Lei said she had joined the protest to tell Mrs Lam that "we want to protect our children".

She added: "We're quite angry. As teachers, we want to protect children, we want to save our children, and letting them know it's okay to tell [the government] what is right."

The march of teachers was followed by another anti-government protest in Hung Hom, before a pro-police rally at Tamar Park in Admiralty.

The protests came days after Hong Kong airport cancelled all outbound flights after a mass sit-in, and a day after the chief executive of local airline Cathay Pacific Airways resigned amid pressure from China to suspend any staff involved in the protests.

All eyes are on the Hong Kong protesters

After two months of unrest in the former British colony, the Chinese government has warned the situation is showing "sprouts of terrorism".

Anger has intensified in Hong Kong for an amalgamation of reasons during the protests, which show no signs of relenting.

Among the demands are calls for a now-shelved extradition bill to be entirely scrapped, which has prompted further calls for increased democracy, the resignation of Mrs Lam, and an independent investigation into the use of police force.

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UN commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet has urged Hong Kong authorities to show restraint in dealing with the protesters.

In a statement, she said: "Officials can be seen firing tear gas canisters into crowded, enclosed areas and directly at individual protesters on multiple occasions, creating a considerable risk of death or serious injury."

Concerns have also been heightened this week over a potentially forceful response from the mainland after China's paramilitary People's Armed Police held training drills in Shenzhen.

Dozens of army-green trucks have been spotted around a sports stadium in the city across the border, while officers conducted drills inside.

It is not known how many people will turn out for this weekend's demonstrations, which take place in poor weather conditions.

Image: Protesters at a pro-police rally in Hong Kong raise Chinese flags

'Let them come': Fearless Hong Kong protester

Meanwhile, demonstrations have taken place in Australia, with a gathering to support the democracy marches held in Melbourne on Friday evening.

Police there were forced to intervene when a counter protest began.

A pro-China rally, consisting of around 200 people chanting "Long Live China" and singing the national anthem, was also held in Sydney.