Hong Kong police and protesters exchange tear gas and petrol bombs

Police inside the Tsim Sha Tsui police station fired volleys of tear gas and used a loudspeaker to called on protesters in the street below to disperse.

Black-clad protesters responded by throwing petrol bombs at the gates and inside the compound.

The march through Kowloon district will test the strength of the pro-democracy campaign after four months of unrest.

Beijing has denied eroding Hong Kong's freedoms and Xi has vowed to crush any attempt to split China.