Hong Kong travel alert: Thousands of Australian tourists are urged to reconsider trips amid pro-democracy protests, strikes and violent clashes
- Australians urged to reconsider travel plans as Hong Kong protests continue
- Tourists travelling Hong Kong are told to 'exercise a high degree of caution'
- Police revealed 148 people were arrested on Monday following violent clashes
- Eight hundred tear gas rounds were fired at demonstrators in a single day
Australians planning on travelling to Hong Kong are being told to 'exercise a high degree of caution'.
The federal government upgraded its travel advice as pro-democracy protests roll into its second month and continue to spark violent clashes.
'Protests have become more unpredictable and are expected to continue,' the government's Smart Traveller website says.
'Tourist areas have been affected. There is a risk of violent confrontation between protesters and police, or criminally-linked individuals, particularly at unauthorised protests.'
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Australians planning on travelling to Hong Kong are being told to 'exercise a high degree of caution' (pictured, protesters clash with police during protests in central Hong Kong on July 28)
China has warned it's 'only a matter of time' before it punishes those behind two months of pro-democracy protests that have increasingly devolved into violent clashes with law enforcement (pictured, tear gas is fired at demonstrators during the protests in Hong Kong on July 28)
China has warned it's 'only a matter of time' before it punishes those behind two months of pro-democracy protests that have increasingly devolved into violent clashes with law enforcement (pictured, demonstrators swing bamboo during clashes on Monday)
Australians have also been told the risks are greater at night and on weekends and are 'strongly' urged to avoid large public gatherings.
The travel warning comes after Hong Kong police announced on Tuesday 148 people were arrested during running battles with protesters at the start of the week.
The figure stands as the largest daily toll since the huge pro-democracy protests were launched.
Police revealed that they fired some 800 tear gas rounds on Monday - almost as many as the 1,000 rounds they said they had fired throughout the whole of the last two months.
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Demonstrators have targeted police, which have been labelled as Beijing's enforcers and become a lightning rod for public anger.
Police stations came under attack from protesters hurling stones, eggs, bottles and using slingshots that fired bricks.
An apartment complex that houses police officers and their families also came under attack.
Superintendent John Tse said a total of 21 police stations were 'affected' by Monday's protests - although it was unclear if all of them were besieged.
Media documented tear gas being fired in at least a dozen districts on Monday.
'Within two short months, the rioters have recklessly destroyed the rule of law. Their acts have seriously hampered public safety,' Tse said.
Demonstrators have targeted police, which have been labelled as Beijing's enforcers and become a lightning rod for public anger
Protesters stand off against riot police at Wong Tai Sin district on August 5.
Protesters have countered that police have long been using excessive violence against their movement -- accusations the force denies.
They also say they were forced to adopt more confrontational tactics after peaceful rallies failed to win any concessions.
China has warned it's 'only a matter of time' before it punishes those behind two months of pro-democracy protests that have increasingly devolved into violent clashes with law enforcement.
The protests began in response to Beijing's plans to impose tough laws in the semi-autonomous state that would have allowed it to extradite Hong Kong residents to the mainland.
'We would like to make it clear to the very small group of unscrupulous and violent criminals and the dirty forces behind them: those who play with fire will perish by it,' Yang Guang, spokesman for the Chinese Cabinet's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, said on Tuesday.
'Don't ever misjudge the situation and mistake our restraint for weakness.'
The travel warning comes after Hong Kong police announced on Tuesday 148 people were arrested during running battles with protesters the day before (pictured, an unsanctioned march was held on July 28 as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Hong Kong)
Superintendent John Tse said a total of 21 police stations were 'affected' by Monday's protests - although it was unclear if all of them were besieged (pictured, a man leaves the Eastern District Court following riots in Hong Kong)
Police revealed that they fired some 800 tear gas rounds on Monday - almost as many as the 1,000 rounds they said they had fired throughout the whole of the last two months (pictured, riot police officer tries to disperse protesters)
