China criticises EU, French reaction

HK faces more protests after night of violence

PARIS, Oct 7, (RTRS): China’s embassy in Paris on Monday strongly criticised French and European reaction to protests in Hong Kong calling it hypocritical and telling France to show empathy after it experienced its own violent demonstrations.

“We express our deep dissatisfaction and our profound contempt for the hypocrisy of the European statement and the darkness of the intentions of some vis-à-vis China,” the embassy said in a statement on its website.

The former British colony of Hong Kong has been rocked by months of anti-government protests.

When asked on Thursday to react after Hong Kong police had used real bullets against demonstrators, France’s foreign ministry referred to a statement from the European Union.

That statement called on authorities to show restraint, a proportionate response to the protests and to focus on a political dialogue to defuse tensions.

French officials have sought to keep official reaction under the radar in recent weeks to avoid worsening ties with China before President Emmanuel Macron embarks on a four-day visit there.

The rare statement from the embassy sought to outline efforts by the authorities to resolve the crisis and described Oct. 1 protests during which live rounds were used as an attempt to destabilise the central government.

“The European Union has publicly glorified the rioters’ abuses and has flouted the Hong Kong police’s selfdefence measures to defend their lives against their aggressors,” the embassy said.

It said France should show solidarity, given its police force had also experienced violent protests and been under constant criticism and insults from a “malicious fringe” of people.

“In these circumstances, we showed empathy for France. We would like it to show today the same spirit towards us,” the embassy said in its statement.

France’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters gathered in Hong Kong shopping malls on Monday demanding “freedom”

Viking ship it operates has been asked by Italian authorities to join the operation.

Initial reports by authorities in Sicily who received the distress call put the number of migrants on board at around 50. Non-governmental organizations say ahead of expected new protests after overnight turmoil in the Asian financial hub brought a warning from the last British governor that people could be killed.

Protesters formed large circles inside multi-level shopping malls and chanted “disband Hong Kong police force”, “fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong” and “I have the right to wear a mask”, as shoppers on a public holiday looked on.

The introduction of colonial-era emergency powers on Friday banning face masks, which protesters use to hide their identity, has sparked some of the most violent clashes in four months of demonstrations.

“Before long, unless we are very, very lucky, people are going to get killed, people are going to be shot,” former British governor Chris Patten told Sky News. “The idea that with public order policing you send police forces out with live ammunition is preposterous.”

Shootings

Two protesters have been shot, one in the chest and one in the leg. Authorities said the shootings were not intentional but occurred during skirmishes between police and protesters.

Many protesters, police and journalists have been injured in clashes, with police using rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators, some of whom throw bricks and petrol bombs.

A journalist working with Hong Kong’s public broadcaster was recovering in the hospital on Monday after being hit by a petrol bomb on Sunday night.

On Monday, Hong Kong’s metro rail system, which typically carries about 5 million passengers a day, was only partially operating due to what authorities said was “serious vandalism” on Sunday night. Some stations were torched in the protests.

Many shops and Chinese banks were also extensively damaged.

The Sunday night protests, the second night of violence since the imposition of emergency laws, saw scores of protesters arrested and the first warning from Chinese military personnel

as many as 30 migrants, including eight children, could be missing. (AP)

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Presidential candidate of Sri Lanka’s governing United National Party, Sajith Premadasa waves to media as he leaves the election commission after filing his nomination with his supporters in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Oct 7. Premadasa is a son of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, who was assassinated in 1993 by the Tamil Tiger rebels. The rebels were eventually defeated in the civil

war. (AP)

stationed in the territory.

The protests have plunged the former British colony into its worst political crisis in decades and pose the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.

What started as opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill has grown into a pro-democracy movement against what is seen as Beijing’s increasing grip on the city, which protesters say undermines a “one country, two systems” status promised when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.

China dismisses such accusations, saying foreign governments, including Britain and the United States, have fanned anti-China sentiment.

A 38-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man were charged on Monday for violating the emergency laws. They were also charged with unlawful assembly.

Tens of thousands of protesters, many families with children, marched peacefully through the centre of Hong Kong on Sunday, most wearing face masks in defiance of the threat of a maximum one year in prison for doing so.

Police fired tear gas and charged with batons in an attempt to disperse protesters across the city and the rallies deteriorated into running clashes as night fell.

China’s Hong Kong military garrison warned protesters on Sunday they could be arrested for targeting its barracks with lasers - the first direct interaction between the People’s Liberation Army and protesters.

Carrie Lam, the city’s Beijingbacked leader, has said the face mask ban was necessary to end the violence by militant activists. But it has been criticised by human rights groups and the United Nations.

“She would have to be crazy to be making these decisions on her own without being pressured into them. The face mask business, absolutely madness,” said Patten, who handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.

“I fear for the future, unless Carrie Lam actually intervenes and understands the importance of dialogue.”

Monday to savor its general election victory, as tough negotiations for parliamentary support loomed and the economy braces for leaner times.

The center-left Socialists won Sunday’s general election with 36.6% of the vote and are preparing to govern for another four years.

The main opposition Social Democratic Party came second with almost 28%.

The Socialists, however, are 10 seats shy of a majority in the 230-seat parliament. To ensure that its legislation is approved, the government will need support from other parties.

A healthy economy, with growth of 2.1 % last year and unemployment at around 6%, helped the Socialist Party back into the Sao Bento Palace, the seat of power in Lisbon.

The Socialists have also earned praise around Europe for taming Portugal’s chronic overspending, with Finance Minister Mario Centeno bringing the budget deficit close to zero this year.

Antonio Costa, the Socialist leader and incumbent prime minister, said in his victory speech that he intends to continue his business-friendly policies and prudent fiscal management.

But economic troubles are brewing in Europe, and once the election results were known the radical Left Bloc and Portuguese Communist Party – the most obvious candidates for an alliance - were quick to issue demands for more spending. (AP)