Protests have returned to the streets of the Chinese-ruled city after Beijing last week proposed national security laws that drew global condemnation amid fears they will curb the freedoms enjoyed in the global financial center.

Carrie Lam said Beijing's proposed national security laws would not trample on the city's rights and freedoms and called on its citizens to wait to see the details of the legislation.

U.S. government officials have said the legislation would end the Chinese-ruled city's autonomy and would be bad for both its and China's economies.

China's proposed new legislation for Hong Kong requires the territory to quickly finish enacting national security regulations under its mini-constitution.