CY Leung: 'External forces' at work in HK protests

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying contends the Occupy Central movement is not entirely a domestic movement, saying external forces are involved.

"There is obviously participation by people, organisations from outside of Hong Kong, in politics in Hong Kong, over a long time. This is not the only time when they do it, and this is not an exception either."

His remarks follow a weekend of clashes between police and protesters in the city's Mong Kok district which has seen dozens of people injured.

Twenty-two police officers are among those hurt.

Police in Hong Kong say they're not ruling out clearing protests sites in Mong Kok.

Hong Kong police spokesperson Hui Chun-Tak.

"Police will continue to monitor the developments and make suitable assessments and we will decide when to take action based on the actual circumstances."

The protests in Hong Kong once-again turned violent this weekend after protesters attempted to retake areas around the Hong Kong legislature which police had cordoned off.

Authorities arrested one man with a pair of knives found in his bag.

Hong Kong officials had been preparing to hold talks with student leaders this week in an attempt to try to bring the protests to an end.