HONG KONG, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Violent protesters on Thursday continued to gather in multiple shopping malls in Hong Kong and seriously disrupt public order, marking the third straight day of illegal assemblies since the Christmas Eve.

From Tsim Sha Tsui to Causeway Bay, shopping malls were packed with masked protesters, who moved around in groups and chanted anti-government slogans.

Some violent protesters threw black paint and a flowerpot from height in MOKO, a shopping center, in Mong Kok. After storming a restaurant, some rioters occupied seats, made a nuisance to the customers and deliberately spilled salt and pepper.

In SOGO, another mega shopping mall, some pressed the stop button of escalators for several times and prevented shoppers from going upstairs.

As the night fell, dozens of masked rioters gathered at Langham Place in Mong Kok, occupying restaurants and cafes and vandalizing facilities.

Given the disturbance, many stores and restaurants had to shut down, and Hysan Place in Causeway Bay closed earlier in the afternoon. Police had to enter the malls to stop rioters and restore order.

A spokesman of the government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said police have adopted a measured and restrained approach and only used minimum necessary force against unlawful activities of the violent protesters on Thursday.

"If protesters are peaceful, rational and orderly, the police will not and have no reason to intervene," he said.