
Hong Kong protesters put on their biggest show of force ever on Sunday in a mammoth demonstration which activists claim saw 1.7million people - a full quarter of the city's population - take to the streets.

A stream of umbrellas snaked through the city as pro-democracy activists defied police orders to stay within the confines of Victoria Park, and instead marched to demand political reforms to keep them free of Chinese control.

Escalating tensions in the former British colony boiled over last week when authorities clashed with protesters in the territory's airport, which plunged into chaos.

But - in the face of increasing anger over excessive police violence and Chinese threats - the rally concluded peacefully and without reports of any flare-ups.

Riot officers, who previously used batons and tear gas to squash protests, kept a low profile and were not deployed in the park.

Organisers said at least 1.7million people turned out for the demonstration, marking the 11th consecutive weekend of public protests. Police have yet to release their estimates, which are generally much lower.

Sensational aerial photographs show the park awash with colourful umbrellas - the rallying symbol of the mass movement which evolved from uprisings in 2014.

Protesters take part in an anti-government rally in Victoria Park, Hong Kong, today as demonstrators demand the full withdrawal of a now-suspended extradition bill

Protesters make space for an ambulance to travel during the rally in Hong Kong, while they walk with their umbrellas in hand

Sensational aerial photographs show the park awash with colourful umbrellas - the rallying symbol of the mass movement which evolved from similar protests in 2014

Organisers said at least 1.7million people turned out for the demonstration, marking the 11th consecutive weekend of public protests

Anti-extradition bill protesters participate in a march to demand democracy and political reforms in Hong Kong on August 18

Graffiti warning people to 'prepare for war' adorns the walls of buildings in Hong Kong as demonstrators continue to march

Beijing has been massing soldiers in Shenzhen, across the border from Hong Kong (pictured), while threatening to quell the protests by force - raising fears of another Tiananmen Square-style massacre

Members of People's Armed Police Force are seen at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, where they have been preparing for deployment in Hong Kong

Civil Human Rights Front organiser Jimmy Shan said the 1.7million turnout figure does not include those who were not able to make it to Victoria Park - where Sunday's protest march began - due to traffic constraints.

The huge numbers fly in the face of the Chinese government which this week ramped up its threats to send in the army if civic unrest persists.

Weeks of demonstrations have plunged the financial hub into crisis, with images of masked black-clad protesters scrapping with riot police in the city once renowned for its stability.

K-pop stars back China At least eight K-pop stars from China and even one from Taiwan and one from Hong Kong are publicly stating their support for Beijing's one-China policy, eliciting both disappointment and understanding from fans. Many of the statements came after protesters opposed to Beijing's growing influence over semi-autonomous Hong Kong tossed a Chinese flag into Victoria Harbour. Lay Zhang, Jackson Wang, Lai Kuan-lin and Victoria Song are among those who recently uploaded a Chinese flag to social media and declared themselves "one of 1.4 billion guardians of the Chinese flag." Wang is from Hong Kong and Lai from Taiwan. Some see the pronouncements as examples of how celebrities feel pressured to toe the line in the important Chinese market. Yet they also coincide with a surge in patriotism among young Chinese. Advertisement

Meanwhile Taiwan - an independent territory which China considers its own - has offered political asylum to those participating in the demonstrations, earning an angry rebuke from Beijing.

Spokesman for the Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office Ma Xiaoguang said Monday the offer would 'cover up the crimes of a small group of violent militants' and encourage their 'audacity in harming Hong Kong and turn Taiwan into a 'heaven for ducking the law.'

The government of the self-ruled island China considers its own territory strongly supports the protests, and Hong Kong students in Taiwan held events over the weekend expressing their backing.

Taiwan's president made the asylum offer last month, though it's not clear if requests have been received.

Ma demanded Taiwan's government 'cease undermining the rule of law' in Hong Kong, cease interfering in its affairs and not 'condone criminals.'

During Sunday's rally, protesters used laser pointers to highlight a man suspected of being an undercover police officer on Sunday.

Organiser Bonnie Leung said: 'We hope that there will not be any chaotic situations today. We hope we can show the world that Hong Kong people can be totally peaceful.'

Her group, the Civil Human Rights Front, has organised three such marches in Hong Kong since June.

Pro-democracy protesters march along the streets of Hong Kong in defiance of a police order to stay inside Victoria Park

Protesters holding umbrellas amid heavy rain march in an anti-government rally in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Pro-democracy protesters have continued rallies on the streets of Hong Kong in the 11th straight week of demonstrations

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to Hong Kong's streets for another weekend of pro-democracy demonstrations

Protesters walk along a street during a rally in Hong Kong on August 18, in the latest opposition to a planned extradition law that has since morphed into a wider call for democratic rights

Organisers said at least 1.7million people turned out for the rally - which has entered its 11th consecutive weekend - turning the streets into rivers of umbrellas

Umbrellas have become a symbol of passive resistance to Chinese authority in Hong Kong after students used them to deflect tear gas canisters fired by police during demonstrations in 2014

Self-governing Hong Kong has been gripped by protests that started out over a controversial extradition bill but have since expanded to include demands for the city's leadership to step down amid fears Beijing has too much influence over them

The protests have been filled with clashes with police as demonstrators vent their frustrations over what they perceive to be the government's refusal to respond to their demands.

While police granted approval for the rally, they did not approve an accompanying march.

Demonstrators nevertheless fanned out and filled the streets as there was not enough space at the designated assembly area.

Trains did not stop at stations near the assembly because of overcrowding.

In Beijing, You Wenze, a spokesman for China's legislature, condemned statements from US legislators supporting Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

Mr You called the comments 'a gross violation of the spirit of the rule of law, a blatant double standard and a gross interference in China's internal affairs'.

He said Hong Kong's 7.5million people and the Chinese population rejected the actions of a 'very small group of violent protesters' as well as 'any interference of foreign forces'.

President Trump has lent his support to the demonstrators, warning China that the US would find it 'very hard' to continue trade negotiations if violence is used to quell the protests.

An pro-democracy protester helps his girlfriend adjust her gas mask during a march to demand political reforms

Anti-government protesters point laser lights at the Legislative Council Building after leaving a rally in Victoria Park

Anti-extradition bill protesters gather outside the People's Liberation Army (PLA) headquarters on Sunday night

An anti-government protester looks over barricades protecting the Hong Kong Legislative Council Building as demonstrations lasted into Sunday night

Anti-government protesters look through barricades daubed with graffiti outside the Hong Kong legislative building

Anti-government protesters gather on the street in front of the Legislative Council Building after the main march finished

Demonstrators confront a member of the police on the streets of Hong Kong following pro-democracy marches Sunday

A demonstrator holds up a sign reading 'Back away slowly' to encourage other demonstrators to leave, near the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong

'I think it'd be very hard to deal if they do violence, I mean, if it's another Tiananmen Square,' Trump told reporters in New Jersey on Sunday. 'I think it's a very hard thing to do if there's violence.'

America has imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports amid accusations of currency manipulation and intellectual property theft.

Beijing has responded in kind, slowing world financial markets and prompting fears of another global recession.

Talks have stalled in recent weeks But phone calls between the deputies from two sides are planned for the next 10 days.

If those are successful, negotiations between more senior officials could resume, Trump's chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Sunday.

US Congress has the power to pass legislation affecting Hong Kong's relationship with the US in ways that could further erode the territory's reputation for stability and rule of law.

That includes the recent reintroduction of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in Congress, which would require the secretary of state to issue an annual certification of Hong Kong's autonomy to justify special treatment afforded to the city.

More directly, President Donald Trump could issue an executive order suspending Hong Kong's special trading status with the US, which could have a devastating effect on the local economy at a time when Beijing and Washington are engaged in a bitter trade war.

During the rally, protesters used laser pointers to highlight a man, sporting a red top and black glasses, suspected of being an undercover police officer

Enthusiastic demonstrators fanned out and filled the streets as there was not enough space at the designated assembly area

Protesters gather near a statue of Queen Victoria at Victoria Park in Hong Kong today after yesterday's stand-off with police passed without violence

A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to Beijing in 1997 under the framework of 'one country, two systems', which promised residents certain democratic rights not afforded to people in mainland China.

But some Hong Kongers have accused the Communist Party-ruled central government of eroding their freedoms in recent years.

The protest movement's demands include the resignation of Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam, democratic elections and an independent investigation into police use of force.

Members of China's paramilitary People's Armed Police force have been training for days across the border in Shenzhen, including on Sunday morning, fuelling speculation that they could be sent in to suppress the protests.

Hong Kong police, however, have said they are capable of handling the protests.