Violent clashes between protesters and police took place in Hong Kong again at the weekend with the FCO warning that “unauthorised protests” have a “higher degree of unpredictability” which means tourists could unexpectedly be caught up in them.

“You should therefore exercise a particular degree of vigilance in the vicinity of these unauthorised protests. Local media reporting clearly identifies which protests are unauthorised,” advises the FCO.

“Activities related to protests have spilled over into large public spaces, including shopping centres, housing estates and metro (MTR) stations, on the margins of recent protest routes.

“Protests can deviate from planned routes and there is the possibility of injuries among those accidentally caught up in events.”

The FCO further warns that demonstrations could lead to “sections of the city being closed off and public transport being significantly affected”.

“In recent protests, bus routes, MTR stations and the Hong Kong Macao Ferry Terminal have temporarily suspended operations without warning,” added the FCO.

“If you’re in and around areas where demonstrations are taking place, you should remain vigilant, follow the advice of local authorities and move away quickly to a safe place if there are signs of disorder.”