Protests grow fierce in Hong Kong over extradition law, attempt to storm Parliament

Hong Kong: Violent clashes broke out in Hong Kong on Wednesday as police tried to stop protesters storming the city's parliament, while tens of thousands of people blocked key arteries in a show of strength against government plans to allow extraditions to China.

Police used tear gas, pepper spray and batons to disperse crowds of black-clad demonstrators, most of them young people and students, calling for authorities to scrap the Beijing-backed law.

Clashes broke out shortly after 3:00 pm (0700 GMT) -- the deadline protesters had given for the government to abandon the controversial bill.

Rows of riot police were quickly outnumbered by protesters -- many wearing face masks, helmets or goggles -- who gathered in the centre of the city ahead of a scheduled debate in the city's legislature.

Protests that sparked off on Sunday after a proposed amendment to the extradition law that involves extraditions to any jurisdiction with which it does not already have a treaty, including mainland China for the first time.

Tens of thousands of people marched in blazing summer heat through the cramped streets of the financial hub's main island in a noisy, colourful demonstration calling on the government to scrap its planned extradition law.

This was one of the biggest public backlashes against the city's pro-Beijing leadership in Hong Kong in years, with more than a million people coming out to support the peaceful protests.