HONG KONG, Feb 11 (AFP) - A group of angry activists tried to storm into Hong Kong government office headquarters on Tuesday to protest against proposed anti-subversion laws.

Activists from the April Fifth Movement protesting against the controversial proposals broke away from the designated demonstration zone outside the building and into its lobby.

A scuffle broke out as police and security officers blocked them and turned them back.

The protest came as Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's cabinet -- the Executive Council -- was widely expected to discuss the measure at a special meeting there later in the day.

"We are petitioning the government to stop legislating the law without proper consultation," said Leung Kwok-hung, who led the protest.

The group is calling for a referendum on whether the legislation should be debated, Leung added.

Under Article 23 of the Basic Law -- Hong Kong's mini-constitution, which came into force at the handover of sovereignty to China in 1997 -- the former British colony is obliged to pass laws banning treason, sedition, subversion and the theft of state secrets.

The government announced last month that a watering-down of the proposals would include the exemption of foreign nationals from prosecution for treason.

An offence of seditious publication was also scrapped and the definition of "unauthorised access" to information was narrowed.

A proposal to ban groups outlawed in mainland China on national security grounds was retained, however.

The proposed laws have sparked widespread concern that basic rights would be curtailed in Hong Kong. Mass protests were staged in December both against and in support of the legislation.

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