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Huge pro-democracy rallies are expected in Hong Kong on National Day holiday today (Wednesday).
Activists say they expect the biggest demonstrations yet on the streets to coincide with the holiday.
The protesters want Beijing to withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next Hong Kong leadership election in 2017.
By midday local time, protesters were starting to fill up the main protests site in the Central business district, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok, the BBC reported.
Hong Kong chief executive CY Leung urged protesters to back electoral reforms set out by Beijing and he has rejected campaigners’ calls for him to stand down.
Leung attended a ceremony in Hong Kong marking National Day, which celebrates the founding of communist China in 1949.
The flag-raising ceremony went ahead peacefully, as student protesters looked on. But authorities have cancelled a fireworks display that was due to take place later in the day.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed Beijing’s control over the territory.
Meanwhile, L’Oreal has banned its staff from travelling to Hong Kong until Monday (October 6) in response to the growing unrest in the city’s streets, according to the BBC.
An email was sent to staff on Monday by the French cosmetics giant, warning against travel to the city.
“It concerns all staff that would have to travel to Hong Kong,” said a spokeswoman.