New clashes between pro-democracy protesters and police erupted in Hong Kong on Sunday as demonstrators attempted to surround government buildings.

The New York Times reports:

The renewed political confrontation came minutes after student leaders of the protest movement urged supporters to besiege city government offices ahead of the working day on Monday, in an attempt to force concessions to the protesters’ demands for democratic elections for the city leader.

“Surround the government headquarters,” Nathan Law, a leading member of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, an organization of university students, declared from a podium in the Admiralty district where thousands of protesters had gathered. The protest area is a few minutes’ walk from the city government offices that the demonstrators have threatened to besiege.

“Participate if you have the equipment, if you can take the risk,” Mr. Law told the crowd. “We do not encourage you to attack police officers.”

Minutes after he spoke, thousands of protesters rushed toward the government offices, including the headquarters of Hong Kong’s chief executive, the city’s top leader, where the police were ready with barricades and anti-riot equipment.

“Surround the government,” protesters chanted as the police, with riot shields and helmets, came out to face them at two ends of a road leading to the chief executive’s office.