Hong Kong, July 2 (TIWN) Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam has condemned what she called the "extreme use of violence" by protesters who stormed and vandalised the territory's parliament on Monday night.

Activists occupied the Legislative Council (LegCo) building for hours after breaking away from a protest.  The chief executive held a pre-dawn press conference after police had fired tear gas and evicted the intruders. 

Ms Lam called it a scene that "really saddens... and shocks a lot of people".  Flanked by Police Commissioner Lo Wai-chung, she said the actions of those who broke into LegCo were "something that we should seriously condemn, because nothing is more important than the rule of law in Hong Kong".