Pro-democracy rallies being held across Australia have turned ugly, as both activists clashed and police were forced to step in.

Pro-China protesters were captured on film chanting shocking taunts at pro-Hong Kong activists before tensions between the two sides boiled over at rallies in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide on Friday night and Saturday morning

Thousands of people marched up George Street in the Sydney CBD on Saturday, chanting 'I love China; I love Hong Kong; Hong Kong is part of China'.

Around 100 pro-China students descended on the University of Adelaide campus, where they claim a protester from the other side had put their hand on a female member of their group

A pro-democracy demonstrator holding a Taiwanese flag clashes with pro-China supporters near Town Hall in Sydney on Saturday

The rival groups pushed and shoved one another before being split up by police

Tao Jiang, 28, originally from Nanjing in China, told The Daily Telegraph that Hong Kong was part of China.

'I do support the law in Hong Kong but the current situation has become violent and it is not acceptable to protest in violent ways,' he said.

'Based on the law Hong Kong is part of China and that is recognised by the whole world.'

Chengcheng Zhoa, 33, said she hopes Australians realise that Hong Kong belongs to China.

Around 100 pro-China students descended on the University of Adelaide campus on Saturday, where claimed a protester from the other side had put their hand on a female member of their group, news.com.au reported.

A pro-democracy supporter holding a Taiwanese flag is questioned by police after clashing with pro-China supporters near Town Hall in Sydney

A pro-democracy demonstrator holding a Taiwanese flag clashes with pro-China supporters during rallies in Sydney on Saturday

The pro-China students chanted 'f*** your mother's c***' in Mandarin to 80 pro-Hong Kong protesters.

Pro-democracy demonstrators in Melbourne were taunted with similar sentiments by the pro-Chinese, who chanted 'Jiao baba' - which translates to 'call us dad'.

Thousands of pro-China activists held up their phones with the Chinese national flag across their screens.

Videos posted to social media show the rival groups pushing and shoving one another before being split up by police.

Police formed a line to separate the two groups at the rally, which started at 7pm outside the State Library in Melbourne on Friday.

Pro-China students chanted 'f**k your mother's c**t' in Mandarin to around 80 pro-Hong Kong protesters

Pro-democracy demonstators outside of the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne used posters to get their message across, with hundreds holding up signs saying 'Long live Hong Kong's democracy'

Pro-democracy demonstrators used posters to get their message across, with hundreds holding up signs saying 'solidarity with Hong Kong' and 'Free Hong Kong'.

'Say No to Hong Kong Police's Brutality', 'Support Hong Kong people against tyranny' and 'I can't keep calm because Hong Kong is dying' read other posters.

Chaos ensued as a man pushed a media cameraman and appeared to attack his equipment.

Some demonstrators wore bandages over their right eye to remember a girl who was allegedly shot by police in Hong Kong during the bloody protests last week.

'Acts of violence from counter protesters' caused the Melbourne rally to be disbanded at around 9pm, according to a social media post by the organiser.

A second pro-Hong Kong rally was held in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday following Friday night's clash between pro-democracy activists and Chinese nationalists

Chinese nationalists held up signs at a rally in Martin Place, Sydney, saying 'Hong Kong Police continuously breaking law'

A second pro-Hong Kong rally was held in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday following Friday night's clash between pro-democracy activists and Chinese nationalists.

More than a hundred people gathered outside the State Library on Swanston Street on Saturday for a peaceful rally in solidarity with protesters in Hong Kong.

Among them were members of Melbourne's Uyghur community as well as Tibetan and Vietnamese groups, carrying flags, posters and signs reading 'We love Hong Kong! We love Australia', 'Step Down Carrie Lam Puppet. Let the HK people vote.'

'Being silent is a green light for dictatorship,' a speaker told the crowd.

'Never give up Hong Kong, we've got your back. Fight for freedom, fight for democracy.'

A handful of people began shouting at the group but were escorted away from the rally by police, who had an increased presence compared with an event held at the same location on Friday night.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed two men were interviewed on Friday in relation to unlawful assault, before being released pending summons.

'We respect the right of the community to express their views peacefully and lawfully but will not tolerate those who break the law or engage in antisocial or violent behaviour,' she said.

A Hong Kong democracy demonstrator is seen during a rally at the State Library in Melbourne on Friday

Some pro-Hong Kong demonstrators wore bandages over their right eye to remember a girl who was allegedly shot by police in Hong Kong during the bloody protests last week

Pro-China activists chanted 'Jiao baba' - which translates to 'call us dad' - at pro-democracy protesters

The local protests are in response to months of violent and bloody protests Hong Kong over plans for laws to extradite Hong Kong residents to mainland China.

Hong Kong has been plunged into its biggest political crisis since the former British colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997, with a wave of protests against a now suspended extradition bill which would see people sent to mainland China for trial in Communist Party-controlled courts.

The protests, which started in April have now transformed into broader demands including the resignation of Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam and calls for a 'free Hong Kong'.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors are seen gathered during a rally in Martin Place, Sydney, on Friday night



