CS Appeals For Calm Ahead Of July 1 March

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung has appealed for calm ahead of what's expected to be massive July 1 protest march, saying the government has learned from its mistakes and won't talk down to young people in future.

His comments coincide with a major security operation ahead of the procession, with police sealing off the Convention Centre and Bauhinia Square, and 5,000 riot police reportedly standing by amid fears that the protest could escalate.

Marchers are demanding an investigation into the policing of a protest on June 12, when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets in Admiralty, and want the release without charge of all arrested protesters.

They also want the extradition bill scrapped completely - and not just suspended.

But writing on his weekly blog on Sunday, Matthew Cheung says he hopes everyone can put aside their differences and move on.

Cheung said the government has learned its lesson, and is willing to listen to criticism from the public with an open mind.

The minister added that the government will drop what he described as its "paternalistic" mentality and would focus on listening to young people in future.

Hong Kong has suffered its worst political violence in a generation as police fought demonstrators opposed to a now postponed plan to allow extraditions to the mainland.

While police initially used tear gas against small groups of protesters on June 12, officers turned their weapons on larger, mostly peaceful crowds of demonstrators who had occupied nearby roads, sparking widespread calls for an independent commission of inquiry.