The Hong Kong Journalists Association has issued a statement condemning the police's behaviour, external on Monday, when officers removed protesters camped outside the Legislative Council.

The HKJA accused police of "totally ignoring the safety of journalists and severely trampling on their right to reporting."

Meanwhile, South China Morning Post reporters expressed anger after one of their colleagues was searched by police on Tuesday night, despite having a press pass.

Image source, AFP

The BBC's business reporter in Hong Kong, Andrew Wood, says the disruption today was "concentrated in a very small area around the Legislative Council, so in theory it shouldn't have a big effect on businesses".

However, he adds, there have been knock on effects due to many people, including teachers, going on strike.

Hong Kong's legal system is separate from China's, and is a common law system that is very friendly to business and finance - but if the extradition bill goes ahead, Hong Kong loses some of its legal advances, our correspondent says.

"As long as Beijing wants Hong Kong to be an international financial global centre, Beijing might pull back at the last minute," he adds.

Leader Carrie Lam denied she had "sold out" Hong Kong in an emotional interview on Wednesday morning - before the clashes erupted.

In an interview with local broadcaster TVB, external, she said: "I have grown up here with all the Hong Kong people. My love for this place has led me to make many personal sacrifices."

She said she would not shelve the bill, saying it was ultimately the right thing to do for Hong Kong.

Image source, EPA

The Civil Human Rights Front, which organised Sunday's protest, has issued a statement condemning the police use of tear gas and rubber bullets.

"Hong Kong people did not 'riot'. Today's protest is entirely due to [Chief Executive] Carrie Lam disregarding the 1.03 million people who took to the streets, and her refusal to cancel the extradition bill."

The Legislative Council had been due to give the extradition bill its second reading today.

It was postponed due to the protests, and the president has now announced that there will be no council meeting at all.

In a statement, the council says: "Under Rule 14 (3) of the Rules of Procedure, the President of the Legislative Council has decided that the Council meeting of June 12 will not be held today. Announcement will be made once the President determines the time of the meeting."

In case you're wondering what rule 14 (3) is, it's not that exciting - it simply says the president has the power to change meeting times and dates.

Protesters driven away from the Legislative Council are taking refuge in nearby buildings in huge numbers, as this photo taken at the Pacific Place shopping centre shows.

Image source, Supplied / BBC

Protesters spontaneously set up stands with umbrellas, water and snacks during today's demonstration, WSJ reporter Mike Bird says.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has described reports that security forces from the mainland could be sent to Hong Kong as "fake news".

Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing that such reports were "rumours to fool people so as to create panic". He also expressed China's "firm support" for the extradition bill.

Twenty-two people have been injured so far in the clashes between police and protesters outside the Legislative Council, government officials tell the BBC. None of the injuries are said to be critical.

Protesters have taken refuge inside the Admiralty metro station, the BBC's Grace Tsoi reports. All but one of the station's exits are blocked.

Image source, @puck_finn/via REUTERS

The government has insisted it will proceed with pushing through the bill, protest or no protest. But it has been forced to U-turn in the past, after some big protests before 2003 - as this report explains.

Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the liberal group in the European Parliament, has praised the "inspirational scenes" of protesters on the streets in Hong Kong.

Pody Lui
BBC News Chinese

I was right along the harbour, outside the LegCo building and we were trying to walk away from the police.

Suddenly we heard a loud bang from behind – we started seeing smoke and there were at least five shots of tear gas coming our way. They landed in some bushes about one metre away from me.

People started choking, crying and screaming. My throat was burning and my eyes tearing. It’s a smell you will never forget.

People gave us water and I drank a lot. The pain lasted about 10 to 15 minutes, but even 90 minutes later, my voice hasn't returned to normal.

A lot of today's protesters are young - many were still teenagers during Hong Kong's last major protests in 2014, as Wall Street Journal reporter Mike Bird reports.

There is no sign of the protesters giving up despite being pushed back from the Legislative Council (LegCo) building.

Ambulances have been seen arriving in the Admiralty area and tear gas is still being fired from police lines, witnesses say.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

A driver with Radio Television Hong Kong has been knocked unconscious in the chaos, the public broadcaster reports. It's not clear how the injury occurred. He has been taken to hospital with head injuries.

ABC reporter Bill Birtles says the tear gas used by the police was successful in clearing protesters from immediately around the legislative council - at least for now.

Police firing tear gas have pushed protesters back from a major road near government buildings, witnesses say.

However, it's been a day of back-and-forth manoeuvres and demonstrators have so far managed to return to confront police lines.

The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse reports from inside the Legislative Council as protesters storm the building and police try to fight them back.

The situation in Hong Kong is moving fast and information is coming in bits and pieces. Police have now confirmed that rubber bullets were used by police as well as what is known as bean bag rounds that are fabric shells that can cause muscle spasms or temporarily immobilised.