Update | 12 Hong Kong protesters arrested in clashes with police on Christmas Eve

Hong Kong police arrested 12 people after brief clashes with protesters in Mong Kok between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, as a large crowd carrying yellow-coloured accessories gathered and chanted slogans demanding true universal suffrage.

Police said on Thursday that they had arrested 10 men and two women, aged between 13 and 43, for offences including assaulting police officers and obstructing police duty, as well as vandalism and disorderly conduct. Two police officers were injured in the operation.

Another splinter group of demonstrators led disruption around Causeway Bay, the popular shopping district, as last-minute Christmas shoppers, tourists and late-night partygoers walked into the festive protests.

Earlier on Wednesday evening, pro-democracy activists kicked off Christmas rallies on the eve of the Chief Executive's trip to Beijing on Thursday.

Some 250 protesters started the march from Southorn Playground in Wan Chai and proceeded slowly towards Civic Square outside the government headquarters. The small but vocal crowds carried 30ft-long universal suffrage banners and chanted slogans for the same cause along the way. 

As the night wore on, another group of about 500 "shopping" protesters gathered at the junction with Shantung Street in Mong Kok, and later proceeded to Argyle Street. The crowd went back and forth throughout the night.