Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at angry protesters on the streets in Hong Kong over the weekend in what has become the “new normal” for the former British colony.

This is now the eighth straight week of demonstrations in Hong Kong. The protests were first sparked by a controversial bill that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial, but concerns have multiplied since then.

Along with bill’s formal withdrawal, protesters are calling for the resignation of the city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, and an independent investigation into allegations of police brutality. Last Sunday saw suspected triad thugs attack commuters at a metro station in the area of Yuen Long, protesters have charged that they acted in collusion with police and government officials.

After a rally on Saturday to “take back” Yuen Long ended in violence, protesters had been banned from marching on Sunday and were officially constrained to a park in central Hong Kong. Of course, tens of thousands soon defied these orders, setting off west toward the Chinese Liasion Office and east to the shopping streets of Causeway Bay.

The Chinese Liasion Office was fortified by police who erected barriers and stopped protesters from getting near. Inevitably, bursts of violence soon broke out throughout the city with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets while protesters threw rocks, umbrellas, and eggs.

Once again, Hong Kong police have received criticism for using weapons like tear gas too eagerly and dangerously, firing them directly into crowds.

Police have fired rounds of tear gas in Sai Ying Pun. Local residents floors up can smell the tear gas. They are angry but they don’t know to whom or even if they can complain #antielab #hongkongprotests #teargas pic.twitter.com/JALpvV9RYX — Vivienne Chow (@VivienneChow) July 28, 2019

Protesters have discovered the tear gas canisters used were actually made in Pennsylvania and include a warning which states they should not be fired “directly at persons.”

Meanwhile, protesters have received kudos with the expert way they’ve learned to deal with the canisters, quickly dousing them or covering them before the gas can spread.

As others have noted throughout this weekend, Hong Kong protesters have become very adept very quickly at reacting to tear gas #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/aLCcOXAPGo — Aaron Mc Nicholas (@aaronMCN) July 28, 2019

In one instance, police fired tear gas only to have the smoke blown back their direction. #HongKong #antiELABhk #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/msJfP6UC8P — Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) July 28, 2019

Protesters have also taken to using laser pointers against riot police, creating some eerie, sci-fi scenes on the streets of Hong Kong.

Not a rave, but looks like it as protestors aim lasers at riot cops (and me!) stationed on a bridge where the cops were firing tear gas at them from above.#antiELAB #HongKongProtests#BeWater pic.twitter.com/fufACz43wB — Alex Hofford (@alexhofford) July 28, 2019

These lasers Hong Kong protesters are pointing at riot police through billowing tear gas, it's like something out of a sci-fi movie. #AntiELAB pic.twitter.com/noTllDuc09 — Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) July 28, 2019

With the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray, police were eventually able to clear the streets, forcing protesters into metro stations where some demonstrators continued to fight back, using a fire hose.

Police officers use pepper spray into an exit of Sheung Wan station. Inside, protesters use a fire hose to repel police. #antiELABhk #HongKong #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/Y1yicAGOyk — Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) July 28, 2019

Though, it wasn’t all weapons and tools. There was also room for some apparent old-fashioned police violence.

Awful footage now emerging of police beating protestors while down & injured in Sai Wan, similar to scenes in Yuen Long last night. It’s indefensible behaviour. #反送中 #AntiELAB #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/UVBHIpw9Je — Jack Hazlewood (@JackHHazlewood) July 28, 2019

Hong Kong police have announced that at least 49 people were arrested over Sunday’s chaos on charges of unlawful assembly and the possession of assault weapons.

The weekend’s violence was the worst the city has seen since the protests started. It prompted the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), China’s top Hong Kong policy office, to hold its first press conference since the office was established back in 1997.

At the presser, a pair of HKMAO spokespeople reiterated Beijing’s position on the matter, condemning the protesters and voicing its support for Carrie Lam and “one country, two systems.” They left without taking any of the questions that were shouted at them.

Again, the last seconds of the press con were the best bit. "Why not seek responsibility from police beating people?” h/t @krislc pic.twitter.com/TjS0PVAble — Tom Grundy (@tomgrundy) July 29, 2019