The Hong Kong government said it has withdrawn riot police from city streets after pro-democracy protests began to calm down.
In a statement, a Hong Kong government spokesman also called on protesters to leave protest areas as peacefully as possible.
But demonstrators have shown little sign of heeding the government's call to leave the streets.
Hong Kong police used pepper spray, tear gas and baton charges in an attempt to disperse thousands of pro-democracy protesters in the centre of the global financial hub at the weekend.
The unrest was the worst in Hong Kong since China resumed its rule over the former British colony in 1997.
Clouds of tear gas wafted among some of the world's most valuable office towers and shopping centres before riot police suddenly withdrew, after three nights of confrontation.
"Since calm has been largely restored to the streets where citizens gathered, riot police have withdrawn," the Hong Kong government said in a statement.
As riot police withdrew, weary protesters slept beside roads or sheltered from the sun beneath umbrellas, which have become a symbol of what some are calling the "Umbrella Revolution".
In addition to protection from the elements, umbrellas have been used as flimsy shields against pepper spray.
Organisers said that as many as 80,000 people have thronged the streets after the protests flared on Friday night.
No independent estimate of numbers was available.
Meanwhile, protesters have gathered outside the lobby of the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei in a show of support for democracy protests in Hong Kong.
The protesters demanded that the head of the Hong Kong trade office come out to meet them to hear their demands. They threatened to storm the office if no one came to speak to them.
Uniformed police stood outside the office building, where the Hong Kong office is located on the 25th floor.
More police were inside the lobby of the building in Taipei's financial district.
The protesters included student leaders from the Sunflower Movement that occupied Taiwan's parliament earlier this year.
US calls for restraint
Following the protests the United States has called on Hong Kong's authorities to exercise restraint, adding that it has told China it backs universal suffrage in the territory.
"The United States urges the Hong Kong authorities to exercise restraint and for protesters to express their views peacefully," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.
"The United States supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and we support the aspirations of the Hong Kong people.
"We have consistently made our position known to Beijing and will continue to do so," he said.
"We believe an open society, with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by the rule of law, is essential for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity."
Earnest also said that the position of chief executive in Hong Kong would be given more credibility if the people of the semi-autonomous Chinese city could freely choose its candidates for the job.
#INFOGRAPHIC Updated map of the main protest site in #HongKong @AFP pic.twitter.com/Iy3RAT8OZi
— AFPgraphics (@AFPgraphics) September 29, 2014
