Chinese authorities have condemned foreign secretary Dominic Raab after he called for an independent investigation into recent turmoil in Hong Kong.

Mr Raab called the chief executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam on Friday to stress the need for “meaningful political dialogue” and “a fully independent investigation” into the violence – but was immediately to stop interfering by Chinese authorities.

Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said the days when Britain ruled Hong Kong were “long gone” and asked to “stop making random and inflammatory accusations”.

She told reporters: “The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong.

“Affairs of Hong Kong brook no foreign interference.

Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Show all 31 1 /31 Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Riot police advance to disperse anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on 11 August EPA Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Riot police fire teargas towards pro-democracy protesters during a stand-off in the Wan Chai district in Hong Kong. Thousands of pro-democracy protesters hit the streets of Hong Kong for a tenth weekend in-a-row Sunday, again defying police who fired volleys of tear gas at several locations AFP/Getty Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Protesters react with teargas canisters fired by riot policemen AP Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Pro-democracy protesters throw back teargas fired by the police AFP/Getty Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A pro-democracy protester is held by police outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police station during a demonstration against the controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong on August 11, 2019 AFP/Getty Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A Pro-Beijing supporter (R) shouts at a pro-Democracy protestor in Sham Shui Po area of Hong Kong AFP/Getty Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Police arrest anti-government protesters EPA Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Police officers fire teargas as anti-extradition bill protesters demonstrate in Sham Shui Po neighbourhood Reuters Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Police disperse pro-democracy protesters outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police station AFP/Getty Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue An injured anti-extradition bill protester receives medical assistance Reuters Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Anti-government protesters carry U.S. national flags and placards that appeal to President Trump to 'liberate Hong Kong' during a rally at Victoria Park in Hong Kong EPA Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A family shares an MTR train car with anti-extradition bill protesters, who escaped from clashes with police in Kwai Fong Reuters Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Pro-Beijing supporters (R) scuffle with an unidentified man in Sham Shui Po area of Hong Kong AFP/Getty Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A protester wearing a military costume waves a US flag AP Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Riot police arrest anti-government protesters outside the Tsim Sha Tsui police station EPA Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Riot police separate members of the media from a group of pro-Beijing supporters after the supporters lunged towards the press at North Point AFP/Getty Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A man helps put up a banner that reads 'Please don't come interfere with our freedoms, please go back!' AFP/Getty Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue An injured anti-extradition bill protester receives medical assistance Reuters Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A protester throws a teargas canister fired by riot policemen AP Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A demonstrator tries to extinguish a teargas canister Reuters Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Protesters with protection gears face with riot policemen on a street AP Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue An injured anti-government protester is being treated by medics outside the Tsim Sha Tsui police station EPA Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Anti-extradition bill protesters try to extinguish teargas canisters Reuters Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Riot police arrest anti-government protesters outside the Tsim Sha Tsui police station in Hong Kong EPA Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Hong Kong police stand guard as pro-China and anti-government protesters clash at North Point EPA Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Policemen charge towards protesters outside the Tsim Sha Tsui police station in Hong Kong AP Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Protesters jump over MTR gates as they move to another destination AP Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A woman reacts from teargas inside a MTR station AP Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Riot police officers Reuters Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue A man scuffles with riot policemen after he refuse to let policemen search his bag, in North Point neighborhood AP Teargas floods streets as Hong Kong protests continue Pro-democracy protesters react from tear gas fired by the police outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police station AFP/Getty

“It is simply wrong for the British government to directly call Hong Kong’s chief executive to exert pressure.

“The Chinese side seriously urges the UK to stop its interference in China’s internal affairs and stop making random and inflammatory accusations on Hong Kong.”

The demonstrations that have gripped Hong Kong for two months have morphed into routine clashes between pro-democracy protesters and the police in recent weeks.

The protests erupted in June against an extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to the mainland to stand trial.

But protesters now demand broader democratic reforms, an investigation into police violence and Ms Lam’s resignation.

Relations between Beijing and London have become increasingly strained as the protests have continued, with Chinese authorities quick to allege that the “interfering” foreign powers are encouraging “violent criminals” behind the protests.

Meanwhile, Britain has called on China to honour the terms of their handover agreement and the freedoms its promises.

After more than 150 years as a British colony, Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997 under a framework known as “one country, two systems” – in which Britain and China agreed that Hong Kong’s democratic freedoms would “remain unchanged for 50 years” despite a different system mainland.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement that Mr Raab called Ms Lam on Friday.

“The Foreign Secretary underlined the strength of the relationship between the UK and Hong Kong, noting our support for Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy as provided for in the Joint Declaration and our commitment to the principle of ‘one country, two systems’,” the statement read.

“The foreign secretary condemned violent acts by all sides but emphasised the right to peaceful protest.

“He underlined that the violence should not cloud the lawful actions of the majority.”

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defended her government’s handling of the protests. A statement issued by her office said that while her government respects the freedoms of speech and assembly and the “diverse views” held by members of the public, “it will not let violence and illegal behaviours disrupt public order”.

Chinese authorities also escalated their warnings to protesters, saying last week that the city was sliding toward a “dangerous abyss”, with punishment “only a matter of time”.

“Those who play with fire will perish by it,” Yang Guang, a spokesperson for China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong authorities seem to have adopted an increasingly firm approach to the protests – many of which police says are not authorised or continue beyond permission.

Police have arrested more than 600 people and have fired over 1,800 rounds of tear gas in nine weeks – 800 of which on Monday alone.

Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Show all 16 1 /16 Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Police fire tear gas on protesters in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police The protesters removed a Chinese national flag from its pole and flung it into the city's iconic Victoria Harbour and police later fired tear gas at demonstrators after some of them vandalized a police station AP Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Protesters burn cardboard to form a barrier AP Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Protests take cover from the tear gas shot by riot police EPA Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Riot police in protective gear AP Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Police fire tear gas during a protest in Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong on August 3, 2019. - Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong erected barricades in a popular shopping district and blocked a major tunnel on the evening of August 3, defying increasingly stern warnings from China over weeks-long unrest that has plunged the city into crisis. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images PHILIP FONG AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police An anti-extradition bill protester is covered in tear gas during a march in Hong Kong, China, August 3, 2019. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez ELOISA LOPEZ Reuters Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Police fire tear gas during a protest in Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong on August 3, 2019. - Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong erected barricades in a popular shopping district and blocked a major tunnel on the evening of August 3, defying increasingly stern warnings from China over weeks-long unrest that has plunged the city into crisis. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images PHILIP FONG AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Protesters burn cardboard to form a barrier as they confront with police in Hong Kong on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. Hong Kong protesters removed a Chinese national flag from its pole and flung it into the city's iconic Victoria Harbour on Saturday, and police later fired tear gas at demonstrators after some of them vandalized a police station. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Kin Cheung AP Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police epa07754951 A protests take cover from the tear gas shot by riot police as anti-extradition bill protesters gather outside Tsim Sha Tsui police station during a rally in Hong Kong, China 03 August 2019. Hong Kong is bracing itself for a ninth consecutive weekend of multiple anti-extradition demonstrations and a planned citywide strike on 05 August. EPA/JEROME FAVRE JEROME FAVRE EPA Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Protesters shine a laser beam as they form up in gas masks and umbrellas during a confrontation with police in Hong Kong on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. Hong Kong protesters removed a Chinese national flag from its pole and flung it into the city's iconic Victoria Harbour on Saturday, and police later fired tear gas at demonstrators after some of them vandalized a police station. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Vincent Thian AP Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police epa07754995 Riot police shoot tear gas against anti-extradition bill protesters gathered outside Tsim Sha Tsui police station during a rally in Hong Kong, China, 03 August 2019. Hong Kong is bracing itself for a ninth consecutive weekend of multiple anti-extradition demonstrations and a planned citywide strike on 05 August. EPA/JEROME FAVRE JEROME FAVRE EPA Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Riot police in protective gear run forward during a confrontation with protesters in Hong Kong on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. Hong Kong protesters removed a Chinese national flag from its pole and flung it into the city's iconic Victoria Harbour on Saturday, and police later fired tear gas at demonstrators after some of them vandalized a police station. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Vincent Thian AP Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Anti-extradition bill protesters walk among tear gas as they attend a march in Hong Kong, China, August 3, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon KIM KYUNG-HOON Reuters Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Police fire tear gas during a protest in Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong on August 3, 2019. - Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong erected barricades in a popular shopping district and blocked a major tunnel on the evening of August 3, defying increasingly stern warnings from China over weeks-long unrest that has plunged the city into crisis. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images PHILIP FONG AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters hit with tear gas shot by riot police Riot police form up as journalists work nearby amongst tear gas in Hong Kong on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. Hong Kong protesters removed a Chinese national flag from its pole and flung it into the city's iconic Victoria Harbour on Saturday, and police later fired tear gas at demonstrators after some of them vandalized a police station. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Vincent Thian AP

Hong Kong police and protesters clashed in cat-and-mouse encounters across the city on Sunday, marking a shift in tactics during the 10th straight weekend of unrest.

Instead of stationary protests, demonstrators withdrew when pressed, only to reappear with intensity in another district shortly after.

All the while, they build makeshift barricades to disrupt traffic and police movements, and use their phones to check Telegram alerts and a website documenting police locations or protest groups needing backup.

“We’ve been running all day but we’re not tired,” said Ah Sing, a protester wearing a black vest and surgical mask while he rushed from one protest to another.

“This is our response to Carrie Lam. If she doesn’t listen to the people and respond to our reasonable demands, we’re going to continue to spread protests across Hong Kong.”

Police fired tear gas Sunday inside a train station and in several other Hong Kong neighbourhoods where protesters occupied roads.

Tear gas was also deployed in central Hong Kong on both sides of Victoria Harbour.

Protesters hurled bricks at officers and ignored warnings to leave before tear gas was deployed in the working-class area of Sham Shui Po area, police said.

Chants of “liberate Hong Kong” echoed through the Sham Shui Po when more than a thousand black-shirted protesters marched. Some residents cheered, while drivers honked horns or gave a thumbs-up.

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On a shopping street Saturday, hundreds of people who appeared to be residents and passers-by surrounded police officers who arrested a woman after protesters dispersed.

Police did not respond to the crowd’s questions about why the woman was being arrested, and the angered residents booed and shouted one of the movement’s catchphrases: “Hong Kong police know the law and break the law!”

Young people have been at the forefront of the protests.

“I am concerned about my future, about Hong Kong’s future, we all are,” said Victor, an art tutor, his face slick with tears from tear-gas smoke near Wan Chai.

“We want to avoid China completely taking over. If we protesters leave, they will take over immediately.”