Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters have held a peace rally in central Hong Kong in defiance of recent attacks against their ranks, as students reopened the door for talks with government over their political reform demands.
Hong Kong's main student union, which had called off negotiations saying police failed to act over the violent clashes, said early on Sunday it would meet with the government on the condition it responded over the police handling of the ugly scenes on Friday.
"The government should show commitment in investigating the incident, investigate why the police were so lax in enforcement, accusations of helping criminals and to give an explanation to the public as soon as possible," the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) said.
The city authorities on Saturday strongly denied using paid thugs to harass the protesters.
"As long as the government responds to the above, the students are willing to talk again," HKFS said.
In a speech broadcast on television late on Saturday, Hong Kong's leader said he was determined to clear the streets of protesters by Monday when the city returns to work.
"The government and the police have the duty and determination to take all necessary actions to restore social order, so that the government and some seven million people of Hong Kong can return to their normal work and life," Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said.
Pro-democracy protesters have taken to the streets to demand the right to nominate who can run as their next leader in 2017 elections. Beijing insists only candidates it has approved will be able to stand.
Huge crowds streamed into the main protest site opposite the besieged government headquarters for a seventh night of their campaign in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Tensions appeared to be ratcheting up early Sunday with reports of fresh clashes with police using batons in Mong Kok, a densely packed working-class district that saw some of the worst scenes of violence the previous night.
Two of Hong Kong's busiest shopping districts descended into chaos on Friday as angry opponents clashed with protesters, tearing down their tents and barricades.
Police said several suspected triad members were among those arrested after Friday's clashes, but the city's security chief angrily denied allegations that the government had called on paid thugs to break up the protests.
As night fell on the city, tens of thousands waving smartphones and singing democracy anthems chanted "Peace! Anti-violence!" as they gathered in the downtown Admiralty district near government headquarters.
But there were angry accusations that police failed to protect the demonstrators against the opposing crowds.
"The police used tear gas and pepper spray against peaceful students -- but where is the tear gas and pepper spray for those who use violence against us?" protester Lau Tung-kok shouted through a loudspeaker, to cheers from the crowd.
City authorities furiously denied working with criminals to disrupt the protests.
"These accusations are made up and are very excessive," an angry Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok told reporters.
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