The Hong Kong police have arrested 22 people since Monday during a dispersal operation of protesters, officers told a news conference on Friday.

The 18 males and four females aged between 15 and 84 were charged with assaulting the police, rioting and criminal damage, among other offenses.

Senior Superintendent Kong Wing-cheung of the Police Public Relations Branch said no police officers had been injured and they had used no ammunition in the operation.

"As proved, as long as there's no presence of rioters or violent scenes, there's no need for the police to use ammunition," he added.

The security situation has been gradually winding down in Hong Kong over the past two weeks with only sporadic clashes occurring, officers said as they issued a further appeal to the public to distance themselves from violence.

The police also warned they would suspend a previously approved public procession scheduled for Sunday if violence erupted on the day.