<span style="color: #222222;">Police in Hong Kong used pepper spray and batons against anti-government protesters who seized highways early today ahead of what is expected to be a huge pro-democracy rally on the anniversary of the city's handover to China. <br />''<br />''The international financial hub has been shaken by historic demonstrations in the past three weeks, driven by demands for the withdrawal of a bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland. <br />''<br />''Tensions spiked once more in the semi-autonomous city this morning after small groups of mainly young, masked protesters seized three key thoroughfares, deploying metal and plastic barriers to block the way. Riot police with helmets and shields faced off against protesters in the Admiralty and Wanchai districts of the city.<br />''<br />''Although Hong Kong was returned from British to Chinese rule on 1st July, 1997, it is still administered separately under an arrangement known as one country, two systems. </span>