Clashes erupted after government officials tried to evict street vendors from one of the city's busiest shopping areas, in Kowloon on the mainland side of Victoria Harbour.
Traditionally, authorities have turned a blind eye to unlicensed food stalls during the busy holiday period, but authorities were taking a stronger line against them this year, fencing off areas which had previously been used by the hawkers.
Dozens of protesters hurled bricks and bottles at police, who responded with pepper spray, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
