Hundreds of protesters have gathered in central Hong Kong to mark a year of sustained pro-democracy rallies as fears over looming national security legislation have reignited unrest in the global financial hub.

The crowd defied a government ban on gatherings of more than eight people due to the coronavirus, as well as a heavy riot police presence on the streets, with officers repeatedly seen conducting searches on those passing through the area.

Earlier on Tuesday, protesters gathered in several shopping malls to chant pro-democracy slogans, dispersing peacefully after an hour.

Some held placards reading “We can’t breathe! Free HK” and “Young lives matter”, nods to US protests against police brutality sparked by the death of black American George Floyd.

Pro-democracy protesters have started marching from Chater Garden along Queen's Road Central, despite riot police warning it is an unlawful assembly.

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— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) June 9, 2020

Last year on June 9, an estimated more than one million protesters took to the streets against proposed legislation to allow extraditions to mainland China, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party.

The government later withdrew the bill but widespread concern lingered that Beijing was stifling freedoms in the former British colony, sparking months of often-violent unrest.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam warned on Tuesday that the city, which has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy since returning to Chinese rule in 1997, cannot afford further “chaos”.

“All of us can see the difficulty we have been through in the past year, and due to such serious situations we have more problems to deal with,” Ms Lam told a weekly news conference.

“We need to learn from mistakes, I wish all lawmakers can learn from mistakes – that Hong Kong cannot bear such chaos.”

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Almost 9000 people, aged between 11 and 84, were arrested in protests in the past year, police said late on Monday.

More than 600 were charged with rioting.

Activists, as well as many diplomats and business leaders fear national security laws targeting subversion, secession, treason and foreign interference will further undermine Hong Kong freedoms, including its independent legal system.

The laws could also see mainland intelligence agencies set up shop.

More protests are planned in coming days and union leaders say they intend to hold a referendum among their members on Sunday on whether to launch a citywide strike.

Authorities insist the laws will focus on small numbers of “troublemakers” who pose a threat to national security and will not curb freedoms or hurt investors.

Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said the world had witnessed “the deteriorating situation in Hong Kong, with Beijing tightening its grip over the city’s liberties”.

“I have strong confidence in Hongkongers that we will have ways to resist and defy,” Mr Wong posted on Twitter.

“Moreover, I hope the world can stand with Hong Kong and protect the city from falling.”

Washington has said it will remove Hong Kong’s special treatment in US laws because it deems the city to no longer be sufficiently autonomous.

The European Union, Britain and others have expressed concerns about the proposed legislation, while Beijing has hit back against foreign meddling in its affairs.

-AAP