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Hong Kong riot police used tear gas and water cannons on thousands of demonstrators to break up a rally against police brutality Sunday, Reuters reports. Many demonstrators donned banned face masks, it noted.

Why it matters: Hong Kong authorities hoped the withdrawal of an extradition bill that set off months of protests in the Chinese territory would calm unrest in the Asian finance hub. But protesters are concerned that the high degree of autonomy they've experienced since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997 is under threat from Chinese authorities.

Hong Kong officers fire tear gas at police brutality protest crowds

Thousands rallied for the protest, Reuters reports.

Police fire tear gas during a rally in the Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong on October 27

Police fire tear gas during a rally in the Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong on Sunday. Photo: Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images

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<p>Hong Kong riot police used tear gas and water cannons on thousands of demonstrators to break up a rally against police brutality Sunday, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Reuters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-protesters-police-in-dusk-standoff-after-tear-gas-breaks-up-rally-idUSKBN1X605W?il=0" data-vars-content-id="868ee9d8-e766-4600-951c-3569fa8ec871" data-vars-headline="Hong Kong officers fire tear gas at police brutality protest crowds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-protesters-police-in-dusk-standoff-after-tear-gas-breaks-up-rally-idUSKBN1X605W?il=0" target="_blank">Reuters</a> reports. Many demonstrators donned banned face masks, it noted.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Hong Kong authorities hoped the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="withdrawal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/hong-kong-suspends-extradition-bill-5fb4f93a-964b-48dd-aacb-d8011563117e.html" data-vars-content-id="868ee9d8-e766-4600-951c-3569fa8ec871" data-vars-headline="Hong Kong officers fire tear gas at police brutality protest crowds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/hong-kong-suspends-extradition-bill-5fb4f93a-964b-48dd-aacb-d8011563117e.html" target="_self">withdrawal</a> of an extradition bill that set off months of protests in the Chinese territory would calm unrest in the Asian finance hub. But protesters are concerned that the high degree of autonomy they&#x27;ve experienced since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997 is under threat from Chinese authorities.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/aaronMCN/status/1188361653554860032"></a></blockquote><div style="display:none"></div></div><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="China&#x27;s Hong Kong checkmate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/chinas-checkmate-hong-kong-protests-998e83b4-de5f-4ddc-944f-d3d7b7c94cad.html" data-vars-content-id="868ee9d8-e766-4600-951c-3569fa8ec871" data-vars-headline="Hong Kong officers fire tear gas at police brutality protest crowds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/chinas-checkmate-hong-kong-protests-998e83b4-de5f-4ddc-944f-d3d7b7c94cad.html" target="_self">China&#x27;s Hong Kong checkmate</a></p><span data-ad-status="NO_AD_LENGTH" data-ad-type="midStoryAd"></span>

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.