The Hong Kong umbrella movement has returned. Thousands of protesters were back on the streets the global financial hub on Sunday for the first big rally since protests rocked the semi-autonomous Chinese territory last year.

Fans demand photos with Joshua Wong, leader of student protest group Scholarism. pic.twitter.com/1v3pMB9aPJ— Alan Wong (@byAlanWong) February 1, 2015

The yellow umbrellas have become a symbol of revolution after protesters used them last year to fend off police pepper spray attacks.

Hong Kong authorities were keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s Occupy Central campaign that saw demonstrators shut down key roads for more than two months.

Protesters have been calling for free elections for Hong Kong’s next leader in 2017 rather than the vote between pre-screened candidates that Beijing has said it will allow.

Sunday’s return came 52 days after the main Occupy Hong Kong site was cleared by police.

Organisers insisted Sunday’s rally would be peaceful.

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