Pro-China rally in Hong Kong ahead of National Day

The development came a day after fresh violence in Hong Kong, with police firing tear gas and water cannon after protesters threw bricks and firebombs at government buildings following a massive rally.

Hong Kong:Hundreds of Beijing supporters in Hong Kong-sang the Chinese national anthem and waved red flags Sunday ahead of China's National Day.

It was a show of support for Beijing to counter pro-democracy protests viewed as a challenge to Chinese rule.

The development came a day after fresh violence in Hong Kong, with police firing tear gas and water cannon after protesters threw bricks and firebombs at government buildings following a massive rally.

The protests began in June over a now-shelved extradition bill but have snowballed into demands for democratic reforms.

Organiser Innes Tang said Sunday's event was aimed at backing Chinese sovereignty and calling for peaceful celebrations amid plans for a major protest march on Tuesday - the 70th anniversary of the Communist Party taking power in China.

The peaceful rally was later got converted into a riot in which police used tear gas and cordoned off part of a street at Hong Kong's Causeway Bay shopping belt after a large crowd started to amass for an anti-China rally ahead of Tuesday's National Day celebrations.

Protesters chanted slogans and heckled police as they were pushed back behind a police line.

The atmosphere was tense as police warned the crowd they were taking part in an illegal assembly.

Police earlier searched some protesters and several people were detained.

The crowd has swelled to more than 1,000 people, with many spilling into adjacent streets.

Sunday's gathering, a continuation of month-long protests for greater democracy, is part of global "anti-totalitarianism" rallies planned in over 60 cities worldwide to denounce "Chinese tyranny".