Foreign Minister Marise Payne reinforced Canberra's support for Hong Kong's system of government, which was created in 1997 after Britain handed the city back to China.

"We've been consistent in saying Australia very much values the freedoms and the advantages of Hong Kong and the way it exists with that high degree of autonomy in the one country, two systems approach," she told Sky News on Tuesday.

Senator Payne called for calm after the eighth straight weekend of violent clashes on the streets of Hong Kong.

"It is very important to avoid violence and we would never endorse violent activity in that way, but also important for the Hong Kong administration to be able to hear the views of their community, their population."

But Australia's foreign minister stopped short of calling on Beijing to recognise the deep-seated concerns of vast numbers of people in Hong Kong.

"They're matters for the Chinese government and the central government," she said.

China has reiterated support for the city's leader Carrie Lam, and the Chinese government's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, which has cabinet-level authority over the former British colony.

Australian Associated Press