Hong Kong police fire teargas to disperse Christmas Eve protests

Hundreds of officers guard main roads as thousands of shoppers and tourists look on

Hong Kong riot police fired rounds of teargas at thousands of anti-government protesters, many wearing masks and reindeer horns, after scuffles in shopping centres and a tourist district on Christmas Eve.

Demonstrators inside the malls threw umbrellas and other objects at police who responded by beating some with batons; one pointed his gun at the crowd, but did not fire.