Organisers said up to 218,000 people took to the streets on Friday, the 14th anniversary of the former British colony's return to China, to vent frustration at a slew of issues including a controversial plan to scrap by-elections.

Police estimated the crowd at 54,000 and said some protesters refused to disperse after the march ended and were detained for illegal assembly and causing obstruction in public places.

Television news footage showed police using pepper spray in attempts to disperse the demonstrators following a standoff which lasted a few hours as the group refused to leave.

Some were later forcibly removed, handcuffed and carried into police trucks after scuffling with police. "To restore peace and social order, as well as to guarantee public safety and to let the normal traffic resume, police decided to act and arrest the protesters," the police said in a statement.

The 231 were released after having their details recorded, a police spokesman told AFP. Out of the 231, 52 were released on police bail.

AFP