Police scuffle with Hong Kong protesters as pro-democracy movement faces clear-out deadline

A student pro-democracy protester sleeps on the street near government headquarters, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy protesters were defiant in the face of attacks by opponents and warnings by the Hong Kong government to clear the streets, staging a massive rally Saturday evening in the downtown business district they've occupied for a week. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (The Associated Press)

A lone pro-democracy student protester sleeps in the middle of an occupied road in Hong Kong, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. Bolstered by a massive rally overnight, Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists were defiant on the eighth day of protests Sunday in the face of attacks by opponents and government warnings to clear the business district streets they have occupied to press their demand for reforms. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) (The Associated Press)

A protester sleeps in front of barricades on a occupied road in Mongkok district, Hong Kong, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. Pro-democracy protesters were defiant in the face of attacks by opponents and warnings by the Hong Kong government to clear the streets, staging a massive rally Saturday evening in the downtown business district they've occupied for a week. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) (The Associated Press)

Police armed with pepper spray and batons have clashed with demonstrators in Hong Kong as fears grow security forces may move in to clear the streets.

As huge crowds rallied overnight in the city's business district to press their demand for wider political reform, Hong Kong's top leader, Chief Secretary Leung Chun-ying, on Saturday urged everyone to go home and said things needed to get back to normal by Monday.

He says the government and police have "the duty and determination to take all necessary actions to restore social order."

Large crowds of protesters scuffled with police in the early hours Sunday in the blue-collar Mong Kok district, a flashpoint that has seen violent clashes between pro-democracy student protesters and their opponents.

There was no word on casualties.