Hong Kong, March 12 (IANS): Hong Kong on Thursday hit back at the US State Departments report that highlighted allegations of "police brutality" and other human rights issues, stressing that the citys embattled police force has been dealing with unprecedented protest violence.

The State Department on Wednesday issued its annual report about human rights situations in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, said the South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper.

It touched on the anti-government protest movement that started in the city last June, the pro-democracy bloc's landslide victory in the district council elections, and other latest developments in the city.

The report said: "From June to (the) year's end, Hong Kong experienced frequent protests, with some exceeding more than one million participants. Most protesters were peaceful, but some engaged in violence and vandalism.

"Significant human rights issues included police brutality against protesters and persons in custody; arbitrary arrests; substantial interference with the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; and restrictions on political participation."

But in response, the Hong Kong government said in a statement on Thursday that the "degree and extent of violence committed by radical protesters" in the city was "unprecedented".

"Faced with this situation, the Hong Kong police is duty-bound to take appropriate actions, including the use of necessary force, to restore law and order. In the process, police officers also faced threats of serious injuries or even death."

The Independent Police Complaints Council was conducting a fact-finding study on the handling of protests since June last year, the statement said, adding that foreign governments should not interfere in the city's internal affairs, the SCMP reported.

Since June 2019, Hong Kong has been gripped by often-violent clashes between anti-government protesters and police, sparked by a piece of extradition legislation which officials have since withdrawn.