Hong Kong riot police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters, many wearing Santa Claus hats and reindeer horns, amid clashes in shopping centres on Christmas Eve.

Demonstrators smashed shop windows and threw umbrellas and other objects at police, who responded by beating some protesters with batons and using tear gas.

Hundreds of officers stood guard on the roads as thousands of Christmas shoppers and tourists congregated to view the Christmas lights.

Dozens of protesters then dug up bricks from the roads and set up barricades as the police warned they would deploy “minimum force to effect dispersal” and arrest “rioters”.

The protesters have been demanding greater democratic rights during more than six months of demonstrations, which look likely to continue into the new year.

Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Show all 24 1 /24 Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police in riot gear move through a cloud of smoke as they detain a protester at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester takes cover under an umbrella Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protestor reacts to police officers EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Pro-democracy protesters react after the police fired tear gas outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A pro-democracy protester holds a placard EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters react as police fire tear gas AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban An anti-government protester is silhouetted during protests Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Tear gas engulf umbrellas Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester lowers himself down a rope from a bridge to a highway, to escape AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban People form a human chain to pass materials as they gather for a march towards Hong Kong Polytechnic University AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters are seen after leaving the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Pro-democracy protesters during clashes with police outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police spray blue-dyed liquid AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters are sprayed with blue liquid from water cannon during clashes with police outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong, China, November 17, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu TYRONE SIU Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police officers detain a protester AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban An injured protester is evacuated by ambulance EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Injured people are taken away after clashes Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by police at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong on November 17, 2019. - Hong Kong police fired tear gas on November 17 morning at protesters intent on keeping their stranglehold on a major tunnel as pro-democracy activists vowed to "squeeze the economy" into next week. (Photo by Ye Aung Thu / AFP) (Photo by YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images) YE AUNG THU AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police arrest anti-government protesters Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester's umbrella is seen on fire during clashes with police outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong, China November 17, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Medical staff carry a protester out of the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters try to extinguish a tear gas canister Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters take a rope down from a bridge to a highway, to escape from Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protestor gestures during a confrontation with police AP

Mask-wearing protesters chanted slogans such as “Revive Hong Kong, revolution in our time” and “Hong Kong independence” as they roamed the shopping centres.

Around 100 protesters smashed up a Starbucks inside a shopping centre called Mira Place, breaking the glass counters and spraying graffiti on the walls.

The chain has become a regular target of protesters after the daughter of the founder of Maxim’s Caterers, which owns the local franchise, condemned the protesters at a UN human rights council in Geneva.

Two metro stations were also shut early on Tuesday night due to protests. Train services were supposed to run overnight on Christmas Eve.

The Civil Human Rights Front, which has organised some of the biggest marches involving more than a million people, has applied to stage another march on New Year’s Day.

More than 6,000 people have been arrested since protests escalated in June, with many residents angry at what they see as Beijing’s meddling in the freedoms promised to the former British colony.

In a video posted to Facebook, Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, wished citizens “a peaceful and safe Merry Christmas”.