Hong Kong police fire pepper pellets as protests flare in financial heart

Reuters
A riot police officer fires his weapon during a protest in Central Government Complex as a second reading of a controversial national anthem law takes place in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong riot police fired pepper pellets on Wednesday to disperse protesters in the heart of the global financial centre, where Beijing's proposed national security laws have revived anti-government demonstrations.

Police also surrounded the Legislative Council amid soaring tensions over perceived threats to the city's freedoms as activists called for protests against a bill to criminalise disrespect of the Chinese anthem.

(Reporting By Clare Jim and Donny Kwok; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Tom Hogue)