Hong Kong's leader has
warned that police will take "all actions necessary" to ensure
government offices and schools reopen on Monday.
CY Leung called on demonstrators to allow the government and
citizens to "resume their normal work and life" after a week of
disruption. Activists oppose China's plans to vet candidates to replace Mr Leung in 2017 and are demanding fully free elections.
Tens of thousands remained on the streets on Saturday night.
Mr Leung's televised comments came after street fights led to the postponement of talks between the government and the protesters.
Thousands are attending an anti-violence demonstration in the Admiralty district, and the BBC's Babita Sharma, in Hong Kong, says the protest is one of the largest yet.
However, there were sporadic clashes throughout the day in Mong Kok, an area that saw some of the worst violence on Friday night.
Last night the confrontations became ugly as groups of thugs attacked the crowds of students, punching them and throwing bottles.
Hong Kong's government has angrily denied accusations that the police turned a blind eye or, worse, colluded.
But if fear and violence is now being used as a tactic it would seem to be a risky one.
The protests are localised, even in Hong Kong, and across the wider country, heavy media censorship means they barely register at all.
If they want to, the Chinese authorities can probably afford to watch and wait.
Thousands of protesters remain on the streets of Hong Kong, a week after they began demonstrating
"The government and the police have the responsibility and resolution to take all actions necessary to resume social order and let the government and all seven million citizens resume their normal work and life," he said.
He said the "most urgent thing" was for protesters to allow government staff to return to work and to clear main roads so schools can reopen on Monday.
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Protesters "feel they are under attack from thugs," says Carrie Gracie
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Occupy Central leader, Benny Tai: "It is difficult to have dialogue if there is violence against peaceful protesters"
The Hong Kong Federation of Students withdrew from planned negotiations following several street fights on Friday, accusing the government of allowing gangs to attack protesters, a claim denied by Hong Kong's security chief, Lai Tung-kwok.
Triad arrests Police said they had arrested 19 people who had been involved in the fighting, adding that eight of them had "triad backgrounds".
Correspondents say triads have traditionally been known for drug-running, prostitution and extortion networks but have in recent years become involved in legitimate ventures like property development and finance.
Some are also believed to have links with the political establishment, fuelling accusations that they have been paid by the authorities to stir up trouble.
At the heart of the row between the protesters and the government is China's insistence on tight rules on nominations for candidates wanting to stand for election in 2017.
The protesters say the restrictions mean the polls will fall short of the free elections they are seeking and have called for Mr Leung to step down.
But the central government in Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail"
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