Hong Kong authorities fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and high-pressure water hoses on demonstrators who had gathered outside the city’s headquarters on Wednesday to protest a controversial extradition bill that is widely seen as Beijing’s encroachment over the semiautonomous territory.

The escalation of force came hours after the government postponed debate on the bill until later this month.

The crowd of mostly young demonstrators dressed in black filled nearby streets, overturned barriers, and tussled with police outside the government headquarters and offices of the Legislative Council.

Some protesters threw rocks, bottles, metal barricades and umbrellas at police. Police had reportedly warned the protesters that they would use force.