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Hong Kong's police on Monday condemned parents for allowing their children to participate in democracy protests in Mong Kok, calling the act "extremely irresponsible and dangerous".
"As some protesters act more and more radical, anyone bringing young children to high-risk areas may put their safety at risk in case of confrontation," police said in a statement on Monday.
"The parents or adults concerned may have breached the laws of Hong Kong."
Police said they would take "appropriate action to protect children from unnecessary harm", without elaborating on what actions would be taken.

	READ: US hits back at CY Leung’s ‘external forces’ Occupy Central claim
The stand-off between protesters and police in Mong Kok remained however largely peaceful on Sunday night through early Monday morning, despite rumours that police would clear the protest area. 
Rumours of a police clearance before the start of the work week had circulated widely online. Protesters had built an arsenal of improvised riot gear to withstand the anticipated police operation. They swapped umbrellas for hard hats and turned empty water bottles into shields to ward off batons.
About 100 protesters held out on Nathan Road until the early hours of Monday wearing construction workers' hard hats. Some pointed improvised mirrors at officers. The desired effect was that police would look into the mirrors, see their own reflection, and reconsider following clearance orders.

Sporadic arguments interrupted the otherwise quiet stand-off. At one point, a man opposed to the protest hurled water bottles into the crowd. Police removed him from the area.
Around midnight, police appeared to have been placed on alert and put on their riot helmets. Officers urged adult protesters to remove children from the “area of unlawful assembly” saying it was “extremely irresponsible” for parents and “may be illegal”.
Lawmakers Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung of the Labour Party and Claudia Mo Man-ching of the Civic Party appeared at the intersection of Nathan Road and Argyle Street. Standing between protesters and police, the lawmakers called for calm. They asked protesters to take a few steps back from the police lines and remove their hands from the metal barricades. Some complied and sat down but those on the front line stayed put.
Cheung said he and Mo would remain in Mong Kok until tensions eased. “The violence in earlier nights had really saddened us,” he said. Police later removed their riot gear. About half of the force stationed there left by 3am.

The removal of Occupy Mong Kok barricades and tents in the early hours of Saturday led to even larger crowds retaking the Kowloon streets over the weekend. Protesters clashed with police who tried to keep traffic flowing on the Kowloon thoroughfares.
Police said four men aged 25 to 37 were arrested on Sunday morning on suspicion of assault, possession of offensive weapons and disorderly conduct in a public space. Three protesters and five police officers were injured. Hospital Authority figures showed at least 20 protesters were injured in the night from Saturday to Sunday.
Meanwhile, no major confrontations were reported in the night to Monday in Admiralty, where about 200 protesters spent the night. In Causeway Bay, protesters in about 30 tents continued to occupy Yee Wo Street. 
In Causeway Bay, 17-year-old student Albert Tsui wrote "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?" on a protest banner. "I will stay until tomorrow to see if any meaningful outcome will be reached in the dialogue," Tsui said. "I hope some consensus can be reached."


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Occupy Central

Don't take your children to Occupy Mong Kok, police warn protesters after quiet night

Protesters in Mong Kok on Monday morning. Photo: Edward Wong

Police officers near barricades in Mong Kok on Monday morning. Photo: Edward Wong

Some helmets and floor mats on Nathan Road. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Fears over 'radicals' as protest violence increases, but sources say Beijing won't be embarrassed into action

Police in Mong Kok, where protests are more violent. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Harry's view

Leung Chun-ying.

Violence in Mong Kok: Are the protests spinning out of control?

Protesters man the barricades in Mong Kok early yesterday. There have been violent clashes in the area since police reclaimed part of the rally site on Friday. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

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READ: US hits back at CY Leung’s ‘external forces’ Occupy Central claim