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Hong Kong on Saturday entered the second of four straight days of rallies, with thousands of pro-police demonstrators gathering on one side of the harbour and thousands of anti-government protesters on the other.

The protest movement that began as weekend marches has shifted form and become a part of daily life, with unrest is growing in the Asian financial hub. Last week saw violent clashes downtown between riot police and demonstrators marching toward China’s local government headquarters.

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The arrests of 49 people there — including 44 on a colonial-era rioting charge that carries a 10-year prison term — signal the city’s Beijing-backed government is heeding calls for a stronger response, bolstered by support from Chinese authorities.

Demonstrations began nearly nine weeks ago over opposition to legislation easing extraditions to China, and demands have since widened to include Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s resignation, the release of people detained at previous protests and an inquiry into the police’s use of force.