Hong Kong ushers in 2020 with tear gas, protests

Police fired tear gas in Mong Kok a few minutes into the New Year. Photo: RTHK

Protesters had blocked Nathan Road after leaving the area around Prince Edward MTR station. Photo: RTHK

More than 1,000 people gathered in several districts to form human chains. Photo: RTHK

Hong Kong police on Tuesday rang in the New Year with tear gas in Mong Kok, as the force continued to try and clear the streets of persistent protesters who had set fires to roadblocks on Nathan Road.



Earlier in the evening police deployed water cannon in a bid to clear a crowd of protesters who had defied several police warnings to disperse.



Armoured vehicles were also seen on Nathan Road, clearing roadblocks set up by protesters using a variety of objects.



Several people have been detained.



The crowd had gathered after leaving Prince Edward MTR station, where police used pepper spray on them at around 7 pm, detaining several people, and ordering those present to leave.



The demonstrators later rushed out to occupy Nathan Road at around 9 pm, despite the police warning that they may use rubber bullets and bean bag rounds.



Various government departments have repeatedly clarified rumours that fatalities occurred at Prince Edward Station on August 31, saying they were completely false, but have not succeeded in convincing many protesters.



More than 1,000 people had gathered on Tuesday evening in several districts to form human chains and invite passers-by to join a march planned for New Year's Day.



During the countdown to midnight, people across the city - from Lan Kwai Fong to the Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront - held up their outstretched palms, symbolising their calls for their five demands to be met.



The crowd also chanted the protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our time" during the last few seconds of 2019.