While the city’s pro-democracy camp slammed officials for wielding unnecessary violence against the activists and called on people to join their march against the proposed extradition scheme at the end of the month, the government condemned the protesters, saying a security guard was injured.

On the release of the nine, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, a leader of protest organiser Demosisto, was critical of what he called “offensive” treatment of his fellow group members, saying a male security guard had sat on one of the women.

Wong, the party’s secretary general, said the protest had been peaceful and non-violent.

“All we wanted to do was to get into the lobby of government headquarters and give our petition letter to officials there,” Wong said. “We didn’t bring any banners … Why did we have to face such obstructions? We are extremely disappointed.”

Businessman’s mainland jailing a ‘warning sign on extradition treaty’

The protesters demanded the government establish a separate agreement with Taiwan and exclude mainland China from the proposed transfer mechanism.

Wong also urged the Security Bureau to disclose the 4,500 public submissions it received during a 20-day consultation period that ended on March 4. Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said 3,000 submissions had supported the government proposal.

The pro-democracy camp objected to the proposal, citing considerable differences in the legal systems between Hong Kong and mainland China and concerns over abuse of process across the border.

The business sector expressed worries local businessmen would inadvertently break the law in mainland China, where they said the tax system was too complicated.

The stand-off started soon after 11.15am, when the protesters ran down an escalator to the lobby.

Outside glass doors lobby, which security guards had closed to stop more demonstrators from squeezing in, another group of activists chanted slogans.

Demosisto said the activists were forced to block the lobby because officials had ignored the group’s two protests aimed at Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah and security chief Lee in the past week.

At about 12.30pm, dozens of police officers arrived and began making arrests.

The lobby faces the so-called Civic Square, a forecourt popular with protesters which was closed to the public in the run-up to the pro-democracy Occupy protests of 2014.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor reopened the space in 2017, but with restrictions, including on opening hours. In November 2018, the High Court declared restrictions on when protesters could use the venue unconstitutional.

The government condemned Friday’s protest and said one security guard was injured during the clashes and sent to hospital. 

“The government respects the right of citizens to express their opinion, but it also has to ensure its headquarters are able to operate effectively and smoothly in a safe environment,” a spokesman said in a statement.

“The headquarters are a working place for government personnel and are never open to public assemblies or demonstrations.”

In a joint statement, 19 pan-democratic lawmakers condemned the security guards for wielding unnecessary violence against the protesters and slammed officials for blatantly ignoring public opinion.

They urged Hongkongers to take part in a march on March 31 to oppose the government’s proposal.

Legislator Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, vice-chairman of the city’s largest pro-Beijing political party the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, urged the public to express their opinions in a calm and rational way.

Cheung also warned attempts to intrude on government headquarters or illegal protests there might prompt the government to consider closing the forecourt again.