The organisers of the New Year mass march condemned police for ordering a premature end to the rally and claimed turnout for the rally was higher than the over one million seen at the first major anti-extradition protest on June 9.

Police said 60,000 people attended the march at its peak.

The march's organiser, the Civil Human Rights Front, said the police decision to end the march showed that the government is unwilling to listen to the voices of the people and is infringing on the right of assembly of Hong Kong residents.

It also said things were under control even after arrests were made at Luard Road in Wan Chai and riot Police were retreating. But then police used tear gas to escalate tensions.

The front said the police subsequently called off the rally and demanded that the crowd be evacuated in about 30 minutes. But riot police at MTR stations and all exit routes kept searching and provoking citizens, threatening mass arrests, it said.

The front warned that peace will not return to Hong Kong if police continue to adopt such methods.