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Pro-Hong Kong and pro-Beijing protesters faced off against each other for the second day in a row in Vancouver, a sign of tensions in Hong Kong spilling over into the Chinese diaspora in B.C.

Hundreds of people showed up at a rally organized by a group called the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement outside the Chinese consulate on Granville Street Sunday afternoon to condemn what it called police brutality in Hong Kong.

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Waving Canadian flags and placards that say “Free Hong Kong,” the crowd chanted “Hong Kong, be strong” and “Release detained Canadians,” in reference to Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who have been detained in China since December.

The event also drew a contingent of pro-Beijing demonstrators, who waved Chinese flags and at times tried to drown out the chants and speeches of the pro-democracy demonstrators with their own slogans and songs.

Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / PNG

The protests were loud but peaceful, with busy Granville Street traffic keeping the two sides apart and police keeping a close eye on the proceedings.