Hong Kong’s leader said she would press ahead with a controversial extradition bill that prompted hundreds of thousands of protesters  fill the streets on Sunday over fears it would allow China to seize suspects in the territory.

Carrie Lam, chief executive, on Monday dismissed suggestions that she should step down and said the second reading of the bill would go ahead on Wednesday. She said the bill was designed to expand existing extradition agreements and denied it was a result of instructions from Beijing. 

“This bill is not initiated by the central people’s government,” Mrs Lam said. “I have not received any instruction or mandate from Beijing to do this bill. We were doing it and we are still doing it out of our clear conscience for Hong Kong and our commitment to Hong Kong.”