- NEW: Police use pepper spray in early morning scuffles
- Alleged assault victim says he was "utterly defenseless" against police
- Video showed protester being carried to dark corner, kicked and punched
- Asia's richest man urges protesters to go home
Hong Kong (CNN) -- Hong Kong police fired pepper spray at pro-democracy protesters in the early hours of Thursday morning, as an increasingly tense standoff in the city's streets continued well into its third week.
Relations between the two sides deteriorated markedly on Wednesday with the release of a video, which appeared to show several police officers beating up a detained protester.
The officers involved have been temporarily relieved of their duties, and police have vowed to conduct a full and impartial investigation into the alleged assault.
Protest leaders condemned the alleged attack, and demanded the resignation of police commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung.
Was police use of force justified in HK? 
Photos show bruising on Ken Tsang's face.
'Police beating' stuns Hong Kong 
Pro-democracy demonstrator Ken Tsang gets taken taken away by police before allegedly being beaten up in Hong Kong on Wednesday, October 15. Authorities have vowed to conduct an investigation into a widely circulated video that appears to show plainclothes officers kicking and punching the man. Protesters are angry about China's decision to allow only Beijing-vetted candidates to run in Hong Kong's elections for chief executive in 2017. 
A police officer shouts at a protester who was hit with pepper spray on October 15. 
Pro-democracy protesters hide behind umbrellas to protect themselves from pepper spray on October 15. 
Protesters move barriers as others block a main road in Hong Kong with metal and plastic safety barriers on October 15. 
Police march toward pro-democracy protesters outside central government offices in Hong Kong on October 15. 
Protesters gather near central government offices in Hong Kong on October 15. 
Police move toward pro-democracy protesters during a standoff outside central government offices in Hong Kong on Tuesday, October 14. 
Police remove bamboo that pro-democracy protesters had set up to block off main roads in Hong Kong on October 14. 
Pro-democracy protesters watch as police remove barricades in Hong Kong on October 14. 
Cleaners sweep the main road after the police's removal of barricades on October 14. 
Police ask a protester to leave the main road of Hong Kong's Central district on October 14. 
Police dismantle barricades from the streets in Hong Kong on October 14. 
Police officers run to barricades set up by protesters on October 14. 
Pro-democracy protesters raise their hands behind police officers after people tried to remove the metal barricades that protesters set up to block off main roads near the city's financial district in Hong Kong on Monday, October 13. 
A police officer tries to stop a man October 13 from removing metal barricades set up by protesters. 
A police officer scuffles with a man in Hong Kong on October 13. 
Police officers arrest a pro-democracy demonstrator in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on October 13. 
A pro-democracy demonstrator sets up a new barricade made of bamboo in Hong Kong on October 13. 
Police officers remove barricades used by protesters in Hong Kong on October 13. 
Taxi drivers protest in Hong Kong on October 13, urging pro-democracy demonstrators to clear the roads. 
People gather beneath the statue "Umbrella Man," by the Hong Kong artist known as Milk, which has become a symbol at the protest site, on Saturday, October 11, in Hong Kong. 
Pro-democracy protesters remain scattered at the protest site in Admiralty on Thursday, October 9. The government canceled talks that day after protest leaders urged supporters to keep up the occupation. 
Taxi drivers attend a small demonstration calling for protesters to stop blocking roads through the city on October 9. 
A woman drinks a soda as she walks past a barricade erected by pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong on October 9. 
A pro-democracy protester sleeps on a street in the occupied area surrounding the government complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday, October 8. 
A pro-democracy protester reads a newspaper in Hong Kong's Mong Kok district on Tuesday, October 7, as a police officer stands nearby. 
Protesters walk up an empty street inside the protest site near Hong Kong's government complex on October 7. 
Joshua Wong, a 17-year-old student protest leader, is interviewed at the protest site near government headquarters on Monday, October 6. 
A man walks to work as pro-democracy demonstrators sleep on the road in the occupied areas surrounding the government complex in Hong Kong on October 6. 
A ray of sunlight bathes sleeping protesters as they occupy a major highway in Hong Kong on October 6. Protesters say Beijing has gone back on its pledge to allow universal suffrage in Hong Kong, which was promised "a high degree of autonomy" when it was handed back to China by Britain in 1997. 
People take an escalator to work as protesters sleep on October 6. 
The statue "Umbrella Man," by the Hong Kong artist known as Milk, stands at a pro-democracy protest site in the Admiralty district on October 6. 
People walk to work on a main road in the occupied areas of Hong Kong on October 6. 
Police officers remove barriers outside government offices in Hong Kong on Sunday, October 5. 
Student protesters carry a barrier to block a street leading to the protest site on October 5. 
Pro-democracy demonstrators occupy the streets near government headquarters on October 5. 
Pro-democracy demonstrators surround police October 5 in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong. 
A pro-democracy protester holds on to a barrier as he and others defend a barricade from attacks by rival protest groups in the Mong Kok district on Saturday, October 4. 
Pro-democracy student protesters pin a man to the ground after an assault during a scuffle with local residents in Mong Kok on October 4. 
Pro-democracy protesters raise their arms in a sign of nonviolence as they protect a barricade from rival protest groups in the Mong Kok district on October 4. 
A pro-Beijing activist holds up blue ribbons for anti-Occupy Central protestors to collect as pro-government speeches are made in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong on October 4. 
A man sits in front of a barricade built by pro-democracy protesters on October 4 in the Kowloon district. 
Thousands of pro-democracy activists attend a rally on the streets near government headquarters on October 4 in Hong Kong. 
A group of men in masks fight with a man who tried to stop them from removing barricades from a pro-democracy protest area in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on Friday, October 3. 
Police raise hands against protesters as an ambulance tries to leave the compound of the chief executive office in Hong Kong on October 3. 
A protester tries to negotiate with angry residents trying to remove barricades blocking streets in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay on October 3. Large crowds opposed to the pro-democracy movement gathered to clear the area. 
Pro-democracy demonstrators protect a barricade from "anti-Occupy" crowds in Hong Kong on October 3. 
A man shouts at a pro-democracy demonstrator on October 3. 
Police try to pry a man from a fence guarded by pro-democracy demonstrators on October 3. 
Pro-democracy demonstrators sleep on the street outside a government complex in Hong Kong on Thursday, October 2. 
As the sun rises, a protester reads during a sit-in blocking the entrance to the chief executive's office on October 2. 
Yellow ribbons, a symbol of the protests in Hong Kong, are tied to a fence as police and security officers stand guard at the government headquarters on October 2. 
Protesters confront police outside the government complex in Hong Kong on October 2. 
Protesters camp out in a street in Hong Kong on Wednesday, October 1. 
Founder of the student pro-democracy group Scholarism, Joshua Wong, center, stands in silent protest with supporters at the flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on October 1. 
Hong Kong's Chief Executive C.Y. Leung attends a flag raising ceremony to mark the 65th anniversary of the founding of Communist China on October 1. 
A pro-democracy activist shouts slogans on a street near the government headquarters on Wednesday, October 1. 
Hong Kong police stand guard outside the flag-raising ceremony October 1. 
Pro-democracy demonstrators gather for a third night in Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 30. 
Protesters sing songs and wave their cell phones in the air after a massive thunderstorm passed over the Hong Kong Government Complex on September 30. 
Protesters take part in a rally on a street outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on September 30. 
Student activists rest on a road in Hong Kong on September 30, near the government headquarters where pro-democracy activists have gathered. 
A pro-democracy demonstrator guards a bus covered with messages of support in Hong Kong on September 30. 
Protesters sleep on the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex at sunrise on September 30. 
Protesters hold up their cell phones in a display of solidarity during a protest outside the Legislative Council headquarters in Hong Kong on Monday, September 29. 
Protesters put on goggles and wrap themselves in plastic on September 29 after hearing a rumor that police were coming with tear gas. 
Police officers stand off with protesters next to the Hong Kong police headquarters on September 29. 
A man helps protesters use a makeshift ladder to climb over concrete street barricades on September 29. 
Riot police fire tear gas on student protesters occupying streets around government buildings in Hong Kong on September 29. 
Police officers rest after protests on September 29. 
Pro-democracy protesters argue with a man, left, who opposes the occupation of Nathan Road in Hong Kong on September 29. 
Pro-democracy protesters sit in a road as they face off with local police on September 29. 
Pro-democracy protesters rest around empty buses as they block Nathan Road in Hong Kong on September 29. Multiple bus routes have been suspended or diverted. 
Police walk down a stairwell as demonstrators gather outside government buildings in Hong Kong on September 29. 
Stacks of umbrellas are ready for protesters to use as shields against pepper spray on September 29. 
Protesters turn the Chinese flag upside-down on September 29 outside a commercial building near the main Occupy Central protest area in Hong Kong. 
Protesters occupy a main road in the Central district of Hong Kong after riot police used tear gas against them on Sunday, September 28. 
Demonstrators disperse as tear gas is fired during a protest on September 28. There is an "optimal amount of police officers dispersed" around the scene, a Hong Kong police representative said. 
Police use pepper spray and tear gas against demonstrators September 28. The protests, which have seen thousands of students in their teens and 20s take to the streets, swelled in size over the weekend. 
Riot police clash with protesters on September 28. 
Police and protesters clash during a tense standoff with thousands of student demonstrators, recently joined by the like-minded Occupy Central movement, on September 28. 
Benny Tai, center, founder of the Occupy Central movement, raises a fist after announcing the group would join the students during a demonstration outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on September 28. 
Pro-democracy activist and former legislator Martin Lee wears goggles and a mask to protect against pepper spray on September 28. 
A pro-democracy activist shouts at police officers behind a fence with yellow ribbons on September 28. 
A sign for the Hong Kong central government offices has been crossed out with red tape by democracy activists on September 28. 
Pro-democracy protesters gather near government headquarters on September 29. 
Protesters gather during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Counsel on September 28 as calls for Beijing to grant the city universal suffrage grow louder and more fractious. 
Protesters tie up barricades on September 28 during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. 
An injured protester is tended to after clashing with riot police outside Hong Kong government complex on Saturday, September 27. 
Riot police use pepper spray on pro-democracy activists who forced their way into the Hong Kong government headquarters during a demonstration on September 27. 
People watch from on high as pro-democracy demonstrators are surrounded by police after storming a courtyard outside Hong Kong's legislative headquarters on Friday, September 26. 
Students march to Government House in Hong Kong on Thursday, September 25. Photos: Hong Kong unrest "The government should immediately respond to the demand of the citizens on true general election, and not make use of the police to employ violent measures to disperse demonstrators," student protest group Scholarism said in a statement.
Pepper spray fired
For second straight night, officers and protesters clashed on Lung Wo road, which runs past the central government offices in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong, near the main protest site.
Police said they fired pepper spray but only after protesters ignored warnings and tried to charge them. The melee followed the arrest of a 38-year-old man for disorderly conduct after he kicked a bottle into the path of a moving car, police said.
The road has been the center of a turf battle between police and protesters, who have been trying to rebuild barricades torn down in previous attempts to clear the way for traffic.
Victim: I was defenseless
The victim of the alleged police beating was Ken Tsang, a social worker and member of the Civic Party in his late 30s. Late Wednesday night, as he left North Point Police station, Tsang lifted his t-shirt to show local media bruising and scratches to his back and chest.
Reading from a prepared statement, he said: "You should have seen the TV footage of a number of police officers brutally assaulting me. I was... utterly defenseless," he said, according to the South China Morning Post. He said he planned to take legal action.
Tsang's lawyer Dennis Kwok told CNN his client was already cuffed when police carried him to a dark corner and started kicking and punching him. "It was unprovoked and unnecessary for anyone to use that kind of violence on an arrested person," Kwok said.
On Wednesday, Hong Kong's leader C.Y. Leung said the incident would be investigated according to set systems already in place. "We'll use the same mechanism and procedures to deal with the complaint against the policemen on the incident last night," he said.
When asked about the incident, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. was "deeply concerned" about the reports of a police beating.
"Hong Kong's well-established tradition of respect for the rule of law and internationally recognized fundamental freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly, remains crucial to Hong Kong's longstanding success and reputation as a leading center of global commerce. We renew our calls for the Hong Kong Government to show restraint, and for protesters to continue to express their views peacefully," she said.
Why don't Hong Kong & China get along? 
Police, protesters clash violently in HK 
Police tear down Hong Kong barricades Prolonged protest
For nearly three weeks, protesters, including many university students, have been blocking major roads to push the government to give residents a greater say in who leads the city.
It follows the release of a white paper by Beijing in August, which detailed plans for the election of the city's next chief executive in 2017. Residents had hoped they'd be able to nominate their own candidates. Instead, Beijing said it would choose the shortlist from which residents could vote.
Protesters say the system gives Beijing undue influence over the Chinese territory, which operates under the policy of "one country, two systems." The system affords those in the city greater freedoms than on the Chinese mainland; freedoms that protesters fear will be lost.
Li Ka-shing: Go home
On Wednesday, Asia's richest man, Li Ka-shing, waded into the debate, releasing a statement urging the protesters to go home.
"We can all understand the passion of the students. However 'pursuit' must be navigated with wisdom, all people should observe the rule of law -- Hong Kong Police Force has always been guarding law and order, and the damage of rule of law will be the gravest grief for Hong Kong."
Addressing them as "young friends," he said the protesters' message had been heard.
"I sincerely appeal to all of you not to be emotional, I ask you not to let today's passion become tomorrow's regret, I plead that you immediately return to the side of your family members."
CNN's Elizabeth Joseph, Jonathan Stayton and Chieu Luu contributed to this report.
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