Hong Kong police fire tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters

HONG KONG, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Hong Kong police fired tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters on Sunday as thousands took to the streets of the Chinese-ruled city after a rare lull in violence.

The protest, which took place in the bustling shopping district of Tsim Tsa Tsui, came after hundreds of people had marched to the U.S. consulate to show "gratitude" for U.S. support for the demonstrations that have roiled the China-ruled financial hub for nearly six months.

(Reporting By Hong Kong Newsroom; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Tom Hogue)