Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang has appealed to protesters to express their views in a peaceful and law-abiding way after Police arrested two people for assault and issued seven verbal warnings for unlawful assembly.

Mr Tsang, who also heads up a task force on constitutional development, had announced last week that representatives of the National People's Congress Standing Committee would interpret Annexes to the Basic Law. They are slated to begin the work today.

Students and others opposed to this held a candlelight vigil at Chater Garden last night. Afterwards, at about 9:30pm, a group made their way to the Government offices to stage a demonstration.

About 400 people eventually forced their way into the compound and sat on the driveway, refusing to leave. Some became quite emotional.

Throughout the night, five Police officers were slightly injured and seven protesters felt unwell and were sent to hospital.

Two arrested for assaulting Police

Two men, aged 25 and 27, were arrested for assaulting Police.

At about 6:30am, Police began forcibly removing the demonstrators as they were blocking the entrance to the Government offices. 

They appealed to the crowds to stay calm and exercise restraint in expressing their views.

Police will launch an investigation into the whole incident and will submit a report to the Department of Justice when it is concluded.

Protesters' concern fully understood

Speaking to the media at the Central Government Offices this morning, Mr Tsang said he is fully aware of the protesters' concern, and called on them to act in a calm, rational manner.

He stressed the Standing Committee's interpretation of issues of legislative process is in accordance with the power authorised by the Basic Law and the Constitution. The move will not affect Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and the One Country, Two Systems principle.

Mr Tsang also pointed out that the Central Authorities have the duty to take care of Hong Kong and to maintain the city's stability without impacting on its high degree of autonomy.

Therefore, this will offer a timely solution to our divergent views on constitutional reform and enable the Constitutional Development Task Force to proceed further with its work, he added.