The three protesters who spoke to reporters said the briefing was meant to counter regular government and police news conferences in which authorities have repeatedly decried violent acts by some pro-democracy demonstrators.

Police have arrested more than 500 people in the protests so far and fired almost 2,000 rounds of tear gas.

China has warned it's "only a matter of time" before it punishes those behind two months of pro-democracy protests that have increasingly devolved into violent clashes with law enforcement. "But they also shot people using tear gas rounds, and actually hit people with them". Protesters were joined by teachers, security workers and some 2,300 aviation workers, resulting in 224 flight cancellations.

Meanwhile, protesters held their first press conference on Tuesday, in which they blamed the administration of chief executive Carrie Lam for the recent wave of protests and clashes, saying they strongly condemned the government's "disgraceful behavior".

Dressed in the movement's signature yellow construction helmets and hiding their identities with face masks, the protesters billed their gathering as a civilian press conference "by the people, for the people".

He also called on Hong Kong citizens to turn on the protesters by refusing to accept their promotional materials and opposing disruptions to public transport.

However, one who spoke, using the pseudonym Jerry Chan, said if the People's Liberation Army was deployed, it would discourage foreign investment in Hong Kong and damage China's economy. "The escalation of the protests did not occur until June the 9th".

'Tourist areas have been affected. While the government has since suspended the bill, protesters have pressed on with broader calls for democratic reforms, an investigation into the police brutality allegations and for the city's leader to step down.

"All in all, the fate of Hong Kong will be decided by all Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots", Yang said.

Hong Kong's mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, states that the city's Department of Justice "shall control criminal prosecutions, free from any interference". Asked today if he could rule out intervention, Yang Guang said China would never allow any turbulence that would threaten national unity. He repeated an earlier warning that China is supporting Lam and the police, and that Hong Kong should not spare anyone when it prosecutes violent crimes.

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The amount of violence and property damage has also increased in recent protests, with 10 people injured last week when fireworks were shot from a moving vehicle into a crowd of pro-democracy activists. "I know it may not be easy but (the government) needs to think about how to accomplish this", she said.

DFAT's acknowledgement follows a heightening of tensions between pro-democracy protesters, Hong Kong police, and pro-Beijing groups.

On Weibo, a Chinese social media site similar to Twitter, the Shenzhen police posted that the drills were in preparation for the 70 anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1.

"And this isn't an easy decision for them to take, because the consequences of using the troops stationed in Hong Kong will be to affects China's worldwide standing, Hong Kong's economy and the mainland's economy", he said.

"So who are these righteous forces?"

He said the central government is highly concerned about the current situation in the territory.

In yet another potentially worrying sign, more than 12,000 police officers in the southern city of Shenzhen, which is adjacent to Hong Kong, conducted anti-riot drills on Tuesday, according to Chinese state media and the Chinese police force.

"When faced with public criticism, it simply imprisons its critics or crushes protests", HRW China director Sophie Richardson wrote on the group's website. "Do not ever underestimate the agency resolve and huge power of the central authorities". "Nor is it clear if Hong Kong authorities even want to try".

Australians planning on travelling to Hong Kong are being told to "exercise a high degree of caution".