Global Financial Market Review

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung on Wednesday released a video calling on protesters to stop occupying main roads in Admiralty as soon as possible so that traffic can resume.

The appeal from the second most senior government official was the first response from the administration after the protest started outside the Legco on Tuesday night over the contentious extradition bill changes.

In the one-and-a-half minute long clip, Cheung urged people to stay calm and restrained, disperse as quick as possible and not to do anything illegal.

Cheung said the government had on three occasions added extra human rights safeguards to the extradition bill after listening to the public's views.

He reiterated that the amendments were intended to prevent Hong Kong from becoming a safe haven for fugitives, and that it would only target serious criminals, not "ordinary law-abiding citizens".