China has condemned the recent anti-government protests in Hong Kong as “horrendous incidents” that have caused “serious damage to the rule of law”.
“We hope that… people will stand firm in defence of the rule of law,” a spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office [HKMAO] said.
The comments mark a rare intervention from China’s top policy office on Hong Kong.
The city has seen eight consecutive weekends of anti-government protests.
There were violent clashes over the weekend as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. Barricades were also erected at several different locations in the city.
Although authorities in Beijing have condemned the protests and reiterated their support for Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam on several occasions, Monday’s intervention is widely seen as conveying the official views of China’s top leadership on the civil unrest for the first time.
What did China say?
A spokesman for the HKMAO, Yang Guang, condemned what he called the “evil and criminal acts committed by the radical elements” in Hong Kong.
“We call on the general public of Hong Kong to be aware of the grave nature of the current situation,” he said at the press conference.
The spokesman also:
Reiterated that the Chinese government “strongly” supports the leadership in Hong Kong
Called on the people of Hong Kong to “clearly oppose and resist violence”
Expressed support for the city’s police force
Insisted that Hong Kong’s “top priority” is to “punish violent and unlawful acts” and “restore social order as soon as possible”
The intervention came a week after protesters defaced the highly symbolic national emblem on the Chinese government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, prompting fury in Beijing.
The authorities have now installed a protective casing around the sign.
As a former British colony, Hong Kong has its own legal and judicial systems, and has been promised “a high degree of autonomy” from the Chinese government except in foreign and defence affairs.
Bruce Lui, a senior journalism lecturer at the Hong Kong Baptist University, said he could not recall a press conference on Hong Kong being called by the HKMAO.
“Beijing is repeating what it has said before. It condemns violence, supports Carrie Lam and Hong Kong police,” he told the BBC. “But when asked about the deployment of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops, the spokesperson showed a rather distant attitude.”
Although PLA troops are stationed in Hong Kong, they are not expected to interfere in local issues. But the law does permit Hong Kong’s government to request assistance from the PLA for the purposes of maintaining public order or disaster relief.
How did we get here?
Demonstrations began when the Hong Kong government introduced a controversial bill that would have enabled extraditions to mainland China.
It sparked huge protests as critics feared the bill would undermine Hong Kong’s freedoms, and be used to target political activists.
The row intensified as police were accused of using excessive force on anti-extradition bill protesters.
Tensions increased further last Sunday, when suspected triad members descended on a subway station in Yuen Long, beating protesters, passersby and journalists with sticks.
Demonstrators accused the police of colluding with the triads – claims denied by the police.
The authorities say they have arrested 12 people over the attack, including nine men with links to triads.
The anti-extradition protests have morphed into a broader movement.
While the government has paused work on the extradition bill, protesters now want it withdrawn completely, as well as an independent inquiry into police violence, and democratic reform.
They want the territory’s leader, Carrie Lam, who is not directly elected by voters and whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticised, to resign.
Some protesters have also expressed their anger at the mainland Chinese government, which they say has been eroding freedoms in Hong Kong.
Source: BBC
