Hong Kong: Student protesters back on streets

The demonstrators in Hong Kong have retaken streets in the Mong Kok district, just hours after they were cleared by the authorities.

Activists clashed with police, as about 9,000 protesters re-occupied the area.

The protesters disagree with the government plans to nominate the contestants in 2017 Hong Kong elections.

The government and students are due to hold talks on Tuesday.

The talks were announced after overnight clashes in which dozens of people were wounded, including at least 15 police officers.

US and British governments have criticised the government for not giving the people their rights and the media has labelled the protesters as pro-democratic.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has rejected criticism.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Thursday that the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents have been fully guaranteed since Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.

Hong Kong's democratic institutions will achieve historic progress if the island promotes constitutional development in accordance with the Basic Law and the decision of the National People's Congress Standing Committee's (NPCSC), he said.

The NPCSC has decided that the election of a chief executive for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in 2017 shall be implemented by universal suffrage on the basis of nomination by a "broadly representative" committee.

Hong said that Hong Kong's affairs fall within China's internal affairs and no country or individual has a right to interfere.