Apple has removed an app that allowed protesters in Hong Kong to track police.

The developers of HKmap Live announced the removal of the software by Apple on China's National Day when thousands of demonstrators defied a police ban and took to the street in the financial hub. 

The programme let the public follow the movements of police as well as protesters in Hong Kong. The web-based version is still working as of writing. 

In a tweet on Tuesday, the app's developer broke the news citing Apple: 'Your app contains content - or facilitates, enables, and encourages an activity - that is not legal ... Specifically, the app allowed users to evade law enforcement.'

The post went on: '@Apple assume our user are lawbreakers and therefore evading law enforcement, which is clearly not the case.'

In a follow-up tweet yesterday, the developers said they suspected the move by Apple had more likely been caused by bureaucratic procedures than censorship. 

They wrote: 'Everything can be used for illegal purpose on the wrong hand. Our App is for info, and we do not encourage illegal activity.'