Hundreds of pro-Hong Kong democracy and pro-China protesters faced off in downtown Auckland.

Two teenagers seen goose-stepping in Chinese military regalia at an Auckland protest are international students, it's been confirmed.

Police had to keep hundreds of pro-Hong Kong and China-supporting protesters separate as they taunted each other at Aotea Square on Saturday afternoon.

There was an uproar as two young men dressed in the uniforms of Chinese soldiers arrived, goose-stepping between the two groups with a Chinese flag and then leading the China supporters in singing their national anthem.

Video of the incident was circulated widely in the Chinese community and further afield, with many questioning whether real soldiers were being used on New Zealand soil to intimidate Hong Kong supporters. It also drew praise from a Chinese media outlet.

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The headmaster at Hamilton Boys' High School, Susan Hassall, confirmed on Monday the young men were students at her school.

Harrison Christian/Stuff The young men (right) joined other China supporters in a showdown with pro-Hong Kong protesters.

"These two young men are from Hamilton Boys High School, where they are international students," Hassall said.



"They were not representing the school on this occasion in any way; they were there as individuals."

Stuff understands the men were engaged in an earnest display of patriotism, rather than a schoolboy prank.

Chinese news website Guancha published a video of the men with the Mandarin headline: "New Zealand Chinese patriots at rally, handsome!"

The Chinese consulate and embassy have been contacted for comment.

A police spokesperson said it was not aware of any offence committed or any laws around people wearing military uniforms in public.

A bill proposing to extradite suspects from the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong to mainland China has sparked mass protests in the Asian city and throughout the Chinese diaspora.

The bill has since been withdrawn but protests have continued, having morphed into a campaign for greater democratic change.