In an editorial, the state-backed China Daily newspaper criticised the "wanton" attacks by "naive" demonstrators, adding, "They are doomed to fail simply because their violence will encounter the full weight of the law." Police fired tear gas at black-clad protesters on Saturday in some of the worst violence in Hong Kong in weeks, with metro stations set ablaze and buildings vandalised, including an outlet of US coffee chain Starbucks. The past five months of anti-government protests in the former British colony represent the biggest popular challenge to President Xi Jinping's government since he took over China's leadership in late 2012. District councilor Andrew Chiu receives medical treatment in Hong Kong after the attack. Credit:AP Protesters are angry at China's perceived meddling with Hong Kong's freedoms, since the Asian financial hub returned to Chinese rule in 1997. China denies the accusation.

The widely-read Global Times tabloid on Sunday condemned the protesters' actions targeting Xinhua and called for action by Hong Kong's enforcement agencies. "Due to the symbolic image of Xinhua, the vandalising of its branch is not only a provocation to the rule of law in Hong Kong, but also to the central government and the Chinese mainland, which is the rioters' main purpose," it said. Riot police secure an area after detaining protesters in a shopping mall during a rally in Hong Kong, China. Credit:Getty The shopping mall clashes took place in Cityplaza, in the eastern suburb of Taikoo Shing, where a human chain turned into a face-to-face conflict, with police running up and down escalators where families with young children had been window shopping and watching skating on the ice rink just minutes before. Police said protesters had vandalised a restaurant in the mall after a peaceful chanting of slogans in the 22nd straight weekend of protests by Hong Kong people furious at perceived Chinese meddling in the former British colony which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Several people were wounded on Sunday, with one man in a white T-shirt, believed to be the knifeman, being beaten with sticks by protesters. Another man lay in a pool of blood on the pavement outside the mall. Democratic district councillor Andrew Chiu was among the wounded, blood dripping from his ear. Democratic Party lawmaker James To told reporters the knifeman had bitten off part of Chiu's ear and slashed other people. A man hits a suspected attacker after an incident broke out outside a Hong Kong mall. Credit:AP He said the other wounded were in more serious condition than Chiu who was seen on TV holding the piece of his ear in a plastic bag with bloody hands. A kitchen knife lay on the ground outside the mall.

Police made several arrests as protesters shouted "black police!", a reference to their perceived brutality. Loading The stand-off lasted into the night, with residents jeering police from the roadside and balconies of nearby apartments, chanting "leave now" and more colourful Cantonese expletives. Police fired tear gas outside the East Hotel in Taikoo Shing to try to break up the crowds. They then left. "These police are not what they used to be," said Julie, 24, giving police the middle finger. "They come in here and push us around. It is not right."

Police fired pepper spray at reporters when they got too close. One journalist was arrested. "This is out of control. This was a peaceful protest. And these people are just local residents, we live around here," said Desmond Fong, 28, who works in marketing. He was out shopping for runners when the protest erupted. Taikoo Shing is an office and high-rise apartment development dating back to the 1970s, with the newer office, bar and restaurant district of Quarry Bay next door. Police said they were investigating the knife attacks. There were also running battles, vandalism and scuffles in and around malls in the New Territories towns of Tai Po, Tuen Mun and Sha Tin, where police fired pepper spray as protesters hurled abuse. Protesters built a street barricade in Tai Po. Pro-democracy protesters battled police across the main island on Saturday, furious at Communist Party leaders in Beijing and perceived Chinese meddling with Hong Kong's promised freedoms, which China denies.

They have vandalised Hong Kong businesses seen as being pro-China and in July daubed China's Liaison Office, the key symbol of Chinese sovereignty, with graffiti. Loading Cleaners swept up broken glass at the Hong Kong office of China's official Xinhua news agency on Sunday, one of the buildings vandalised as activists hurled petrol bombs and set fire to metro stations. Xinhua condemned the attack by what it said were "barbaric thugs" who broke doors and security systems and threw fire and paint bombs into the lobby. Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and a water cannon at protesters on Saturday and early Sunday as the violence spilled from Hong Kong island across the harbour to Kowloon. One of the protesters' key demands is an independent probe into perceived police brutality.