Chaos returns to Hong Kong streets during banned protest

Hong Kong riot police have used tear gas and water cannon against hardcore pro-democracy protesters hurling rocks and petrol bombs, tipping the violence-plagued city back into chaos.

Tens of thousands of people defied authorities to march through the streets of the city in an unsanctioned rally on Sunday, the latest episode of a popular revolt that has raged for the last 99 days.

The rally descended into violence when small groups of hardcore activists tried to attack the city's main government complex.

Police fired repeated volleys of tear gas and deployed water cannon trucks after Molotov cocktails and rocks were thrown over security barriers surrounding the complex, which has become a frequent flashpoint in the ongoing protests.

• Peaceful protests in Hong Kong turn violent

Sunday's clashes ended a recent lull in the intensity of skirmishes between police and protesters.

The once-stable international hub has been convulsed by weeks of huge, sometimes violent rallies calling for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability.

The movement is the biggest challenge to China's rule since the city was handed back by Britain in 1997 and shows no sign of ending, with local leaders and Beijing taking a hard line.