A ruling Chinese Communist Party newspaper has taken a hard line against pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, saying demonstrators who broke into the local legislature showed their “arrogance” and had no regard for the rule of law.

Chinese state media ran footage of police in Hong Kong clearing protesters from the streets, in a break with its silence over days of pro-democracy demonstrations that have challenged Beijing’s authority over the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Beijing has largely sought to downplay the demonstrations that have highlighted doubts about the validity of its “one country, two systems” formula for governing the former British colony.

Its coverage of the protests and the publication of a harsh editorial in the official Communist Party newspaper Global Times may indicate it is prepared to take a tougher line against the demonstrators following days of forbearance.

“These violent assailants in their arrogance pay no heed to Hong Kong’s law, no doubt arousing the anger and sadness of all people of the city of Hong Kong,” the editorial said.

Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures The lobby of the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong is seen covered in graffiti after it was stormed by protesters Getty Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Police officers stand guard at the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong after it was stormed by protesters EPA Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures The colonial flag of Hong Kong hangs in the chamber of the Legislative Council after protesters stormed the building Reuters Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Police officers are seen behind cracked glass panels that were damaged by protesters trying to ram their way into the Legislative Council building EPA Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Shattered glass is seen on the outside wall of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong after protesters smashed their way in the building AP Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Riot police patrol the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong after it was stormed by protesters Getty Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Police officers inspect damage to the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong after it was stormed by protesters AFP/Getty Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures A caricature of Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam is pasted on a pillar outside of the Legislative Council after protesters broke into the building Reuters Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Graffiti is seen in the chamber of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong after protesters stormed the building Getty Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures Abandoned placards and litter is seen outside the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong after a protest on July 1 EPA Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures A painting hung i the Legislative Council in Hong Kong is covered in graffiti after protesters stormed the building Getty Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures A lift in the Legislative Council building is seen covered in graffiti and litter after protesters stormed the building Getty Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures The chamber of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong after protesters stormed the building Getty Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures A desk in the chamber of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong is covered in graffiti after protesters stormed the building AFP/Getty Aftermath of protesters storming Hong Kong government HQ: In pictures An area inside the Legislative Council building complex is strewn with litter and smashed glass after it was stormed by protesters Getty

Television images showed police moving into roads surrounding the Legislative Council, where protesters smashed through glass and metal barriers to occupy the space for about three hours on Monday night until police moved in shortly after midnight.

Opposition figure Joshua Wong acknowledged that the damage to the legislative offices has drawn criticism from some sectors in the Asian financial hub.

But he said mass participation in marches and rallies over previous weeks showed there was a groundswell of support for the demonstrators’ goals of demanding more accountability from the administration of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

“I understand people in Hong Kong and around the world might not 100 percent agree or disagree on all of the behaviour of protesters ... but all of the requests have been ignored. So, is there any way out?” Mr Wong said.

Ms Lam is “not capable as leader anymore” and should resign, Mr Wong said, echoing the demand of many protesters.

Having been elected by a Beijing-approved committee, Ms Lam is reliant on continuing support from Beijing, which has shown no outward signs of abandoning her so far.

Mr Wong also accused police officers of having “double standards” in enforcing the law, saying pro-Beijing legislators and their staff members have benefited from better treatment than their opposition counterparts throughout the weeks of protest outside the legislature.

On the mainland, Beijing had sought to suppress news of the protests, which roughly coincided with celebrations of the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese rule.

The demonstrations reflect mounting frustration with Ms Lam and her government for not responding to demands from opposition figures that were originally sparked by a government attempt to change extradition laws to allow suspects to be sent to China for trial.

Ms Lam has shelved the bills but not agreed to scrap them altogether as opponents insist she does.

Protesters attempt to smash into Hong Kong legislature

Hundreds of protesters swarmed into Hong Kong’s legislature on Monday night, defacing portraits of politicians and spray-painting pro-democracy slogans in the chamber before vacating it as riot police cleared surrounding streets with tear gas and then moved inside.

The occupation came on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.

Protesters whacked away at thick glass windows until they shattered and then pried open steel security gates.

Police initially retreated as the protesters entered, avoiding a confrontation and giving them the run of the building.

Demonstrators stood on politicians’ desks and painted over the territory’s emblem on a wall.

The crowd also wrote slogans calling for a democratic election of Hong Kong’s leader and denouncing the extradition legislation.

Many wore yellow and white helmets, face masks and the black T-shirts that have become their uniform.

The actions prompted organisers of a separate peaceful march against the extradition bill to change the endpoint of their protest from the legislature to a nearby park, after police asked them to call it off or change the route.

Police wanted the march to end earlier in the city’s Wan Chai district, but organisers said that would leave out many people who planned to join the march along the way.

Police estimated that 190,000 people joined the peaceful march, the third major one in as many weeks.

Organisers put the number at 550,000.

The extradition proposal has heightened fears of eroding freedoms in the territory, which Britain returned to China on 1 July 1997.

Debate on the measure has been suspended indefinitely.

Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Show all 40 1 /40 Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A reported two million people took to the streets to protest against a controversial extradition law in Hong Kong on June 16 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters part to allow an ambulance to pass through during a protest on June 16 that reportedly attracted two million people AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester pays tribute to a man who died after falling from a scaffolding during the protests against against the extradition law proposal on June 17 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Following the demonstration, protesters cleared rubbish from the roads where a reported two million people had marched AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters part to allow buses to pass through during a protest on June 16 that reportedly attracted two million people Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A riot police officer strikes at protesters during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A police officer fires tear gas at protesters during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters scatter as police fire tear gas during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 Pauline Leung via Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters carry a banner opposing the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 16 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester holds a picture of an injured man who later died after falling from a scaffolding during the protests against against the extradition law proposal on June 17 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters run after police fire tear gas during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester rests after facing water cannons fired by police during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers use a water canon on a lone protestor near the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on June 12 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters gather outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on June 12 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester waves a British flag outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on June 12 Getty Images Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters leap over barricades as they occupy roads by the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on June 12 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Some protesters run after police fire tear gas during a protest against the extradition law proposal outside the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on June 12 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers use pepper spray against protesters during clashes after a rally against the extradition law proposal on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester sits down in front of riot police during a protest against the extradition law proposal on June 12 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters sit in a demonstration following violence in the previous day of protests on June 13 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters barricade themselves in an area outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council during clashes with police after a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A bloody-faced police officer is led away by a colleague after clashing with protesters in a rally against the extradition law proposal on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters march through Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 9 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester sits in front of a riot police line during clashes between protesters and police following a protest in Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 10 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters march through Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 9 EPA Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester lifts a barricade while a police officer charges in with his baton during clashes after a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester is arrested during a clash after a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters hold pictures of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 9 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester wave a Union Flag in front of police officers during a protest against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters gather outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester is grabbed by a policeman as he crosses the police line during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters gather outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AFP/Getty Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A police officer detains a demonstrator during a protest to demand authorities scrap a proposed extradition bill with China, in Hong Kong, China June 9, 2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester shouts next to police officers during a protest during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters march through Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 9 AP Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest during a rally against the extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 10 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week Protesters gather in a park in Hong Kong opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 9 Reuters Hong Kong: Extradition law protests continue into second week A protester sits by ramshackle barriers after clashes between protesters and police following a protest in Hong Kong in opposition to the extradition law proposal on June 10 AP

Protesters want the bills formally withdrawn and Ms Lam to resign.

Ms Lam, who has come under withering criticism for trying to push the legislation through, called a rare pre-dawn news conference with security officials at police headquarters.

She said that two different protests happened on Monday – one a generally orderly march that reflected Hong Kong’s inclusiveness, the other using vandalism and violence.

“This is something we should seriously condemn,” she said.

Ms Lam disputed protesters’ complaints that officials had not responded to them, saying the government explained that by suspending the bill with no timetable or plan to revisit it, the legislation would die at the end of the current legislative session in July 2020.

For the other demands, she said releasing arrested protesters without an investigation would not uphold the rule of law.

The extradition bill controversy has given fresh momentum to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition movement, awakening broader concerns that China is chipping away at the rights guaranteed to Hong Kong for 50 years under the “one country, two systems” framework.

The two marches in June drew more than a million people, according to organiser estimates.

Surveying damage to the building on Tuesday morning, Legislative Council president Andrew Leung said the previous night’s violence had undermined “the core values of Hong Kong”.

He said police were collecting evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

“I believe many Hong Kong people will share the same feeling with me that we are saddened by what happened last night. For the best interest of Hong Kong, I hope that all of us can find the way forward professionally,” Mr Leung said.