Dozens of demonstrators were arrested, with hundreds remaining in the city centre late on Sunday.
Protesters want the Chinese government to scrap rules allowing it to vet Hong Kong's top leader in the 2017 poll.
Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said the demonstration was "illegal" and elections would go ahead as planned.
China has also condemned the protest, and offered "its strong backing" to the Hong Kong government.
Regrouping Protesters blocked a busy road on Sunday, clashing with police as they tried to join a mass sit-in outside government headquarters.
Many protesters remained in one of the
main avenues leading through the heart of Hong Kong's financial district
on Sunday evening
Crowds of protesters were earlier dispersed by volleys of tear gas but later returned
Police used pepper spray and shot tear gas into the air to
drive back the protesters, who defended themselves with umbrellas and
face masks.
As evening fell, the police lobbed tear gas canisters into the crowd, scattering some of the protesters.
But the BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong said that instead of going home, many of the demonstrators regrouped and retreated to a nearby park.
The scene is currently much more peaceful compared to the chaos seen a few hours before, she adds.
Police said in a statement that they had arrested 78 people on Sunday on charges of "forcible entry into government premises, unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct in public place, assaulting public officers and obstructing police officers in due execution of duties".
Thousands joined a sit-in outside government headquarters this
weekend, bolstering a week-old protest, which began as a strike by
students calling for democratic reforms.
On Saturday night, the leader of Occupy Central, another protest movement, brought forward a planned action to merge it with the sit-in by the students outside the central government building.
A statement by the movement said Mr Leung had "failed to deliver on political reform".
But speaking in his first public statement since the protests began, Mr Leung said that he and his government had "been listening attentively to members of [the] public".
He also added that political consultations would continue.
But, he warned, "resolute" action would be taken against the "illegal demonstration".
Umbrellas were used by activists to avoid the effects of tear gas and pepper spray
Students and activists have been camped outside the government premises all weekend
The protesters had also called for further talks but it is not
clear how far - if at all - Mr Leung's mention of further consultations
will be seen as recognising their demands.
Faith Kwek, a 19-year-old student protester, said Mr Leung's "words are just words".
"I don't think myself or any of the protesters will give in until we see bigger progress in the form of action from him. We don't want our country to surrender to China."
A spokesman for China's Hong Kong and Macau affairs office said that Beijing "firmly opposes all illegal activities that could undermine rule of law and jeopardise 'social tranquillity' and it offers its strong backing" to the Hong Kong government, Xinhua news agency reports.
Wider campaign Occupy Central had originally planned to paralyse the central business district next Wednesday, but organisers advanced the protest and changed the location in an apparent bid to harness momentum from student protests outside the government complex.
Student activists had stormed into a courtyard of the complex late on Friday and scuffled with police using pepper spray.
Police said they made more than 60 arrests including prominent student activist leader Joshua Wong, who has since been released.
The BBC's Juliana Liu says that thousands had arrived spontaneously to support the demonstration by students.
Police protected a cordon outside the government offices on Saturday night
However, some students expressed unease that their protest was apparently being taken over by Occupy Central.
"A lot of students left as soon as Occupy made the announcement they were starting their occupation," said university graduate Vito Leung, 24.
"I think they were really forcing it. This was always a separate student movement with similar goals but different directions. I don't think it should be brought together like this."
Unrest began when the Chinese government announced that candidates for the 2017 chief executive election would first have to be approved by a nominating committee.
Activists have argued that this does not amount to true democracy.
Protesters want the Chinese government to scrap rules allowing it to vet Hong Kong's top leader in the 2017 poll.
Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said the demonstration was "illegal" and elections would go ahead as planned.
China has also condemned the protest, and offered "its strong backing" to the Hong Kong government.
Regrouping Protesters blocked a busy road on Sunday, clashing with police as they tried to join a mass sit-in outside government headquarters.
Many protesters remained in one of the
main avenues leading through the heart of Hong Kong's financial district
on Sunday evening
Crowds of protesters were earlier dispersed by volleys of tear gas but later returned
As evening fell, the police lobbed tear gas canisters into the crowd, scattering some of the protesters.
But the BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong said that instead of going home, many of the demonstrators regrouped and retreated to a nearby park.
The scene is currently much more peaceful compared to the chaos seen a few hours before, she adds.
Police said in a statement that they had arrested 78 people on Sunday on charges of "forcible entry into government premises, unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct in public place, assaulting public officers and obstructing police officers in due execution of duties".
Chief Executive CY Leung said the government was "resolute in opposing the unlawful occupation" by protesters
On Saturday night, the leader of Occupy Central, another protest movement, brought forward a planned action to merge it with the sit-in by the students outside the central government building.
A statement by the movement said Mr Leung had "failed to deliver on political reform".
But speaking in his first public statement since the protests began, Mr Leung said that he and his government had "been listening attentively to members of [the] public".
He also added that political consultations would continue.
But, he warned, "resolute" action would be taken against the "illegal demonstration".
Umbrellas were used by activists to avoid the effects of tear gas and pepper spray
The main thoroughfare in central Hong Kong was blocked for several kilometres in each direction
Students and activists have been camped outside the government premises all weekend
Faith Kwek, a 19-year-old student protester, said Mr Leung's "words are just words".
"I don't think myself or any of the protesters will give in until we see bigger progress in the form of action from him. We don't want our country to surrender to China."
A spokesman for China's Hong Kong and Macau affairs office said that Beijing "firmly opposes all illegal activities that could undermine rule of law and jeopardise 'social tranquillity' and it offers its strong backing" to the Hong Kong government, Xinhua news agency reports.
Wider campaign Occupy Central had originally planned to paralyse the central business district next Wednesday, but organisers advanced the protest and changed the location in an apparent bid to harness momentum from student protests outside the government complex.
Student activists had stormed into a courtyard of the complex late on Friday and scuffled with police using pepper spray.
Police said they made more than 60 arrests including prominent student activist leader Joshua Wong, who has since been released.
The BBC's Juliana Liu says that thousands had arrived spontaneously to support the demonstration by students.
Police protected a cordon outside the government offices on Saturday night
"A lot of students left as soon as Occupy made the announcement they were starting their occupation," said university graduate Vito Leung, 24.
"I think they were really forcing it. This was always a separate student movement with similar goals but different directions. I don't think it should be brought together like this."
Unrest began when the Chinese government announced that candidates for the 2017 chief executive election would first have to be approved by a nominating committee.
Activists have argued that this does not amount to true democracy.
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