Scuffles have again broken out between demonstrators and police in Hong Kong as hundreds of people persevered with a protest against an extradition law with mainland China.
This is a day after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up big crowds.
Protests around the city's legislature on Wednesday forced the postponement of debate on the extradition bill, which many people in Hong Kong fear will undermine freedoms and confidence in the commercial hub.
Hong Kong's China-backed Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemned the violence and urged a swift restoration of order but has vowed to press ahead with the legislation despite the reservations about it, including within the business community.
The number of protesters milling about outside the legislature in the financial district fell overnight but rose again through the day on Thursday to about 1000 at one stage.
They expect the legislature, which has a majority of pro-Beijing members, will try to hold the debate at some stage, though it issued a notice saying there would be no session on Thursday.
"We will be back when, and if, it comes back for discussion again," said protester Stephen Chan, a 20-year old university student.
"We just want to preserve our energy now."
Earlier, some protesters tried to stop police from removing supplies of face masks and food and scuffles broke out.
Police with helmets and shields blocked overhead walkways and plainclothes officers checked commuters' identity cards.
A clean-up was under way to clear debris from the streets after the previous day's clashes, when police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray in a series of skirmishes to clear demonstrators from the legislature.
Officials said 72 people were admitted to hospital. Police said they arrested 11 people while 22 officers were injured.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the Chinese government "strongly condemns the violent behaviour and we support the (Hong Kong) government in dealing with it according to law".
Authorities shut government offices in the financial district, which is overlooked by the towers of some of Asia's biggest firms and hotel chains, for the rest of the week after some of the worst violence in Hong Kong in decades.
Wednesday saw the third night of violence since a protest on Sunday drew what organisers said was more than a million people in the biggest street demonstration since the 1997 handover of the former British colony back to Chinese rule under a deal to preserve special autonomy.
However, many Hong Kong people accuse China of extensive meddling since then, including obstruction of democratic reforms and interference in local elections.
The extradition bill, which will cover Hong Kong residents and foreign and Chinese nationals living or travelling through the city, has sparked concern it may threaten the rule of law that underpins Hong Kong's international financial status.
