Beijing condemns protesters, voices support for Hong Kong’s police
BEIJING — China’s top government office dealing with Hong Kong affairs voiced support for Hong Kong’s government and police and condemned protesters in a rare news conference Monday afternoon.
“We call on people from all walks of life in Hong Kong to unequivocally oppose and resist violence,” said Yang Guang, spokesman for the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, calling protesters “radical elements” committing “evil and criminal acts.”
Mr. Yang affirmed Beijing’s support for Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam and praised police for “fearlessly sticking to their posts and fulfilling their duties against all odds.”
Asked whether China would consider military intervention, Mr. Yang pointed to Article 14 of Hong Kong’s basic law, which states that the People’s Liberation Army will not interfere in Hong Kong unless requested by the Hong Kong government “in the maintenance of public order” or for disaster relief.
The statement comes in the eighth week of protests that have plunged the territory into political crisis and posed a direct challenge to China’s Communist Party- state authority.
Violent clashes between protesters and police have erupted nearly every weekend, including two consecutive illegal protests Saturday and Sunday that resulted in dozens of arrests and injuries.
Scenes of chaos stretched across central Hong Kong as police fired tear gas into subway stations and on pedestrian overpasses, and protesters fought back with bricks and water hoses.
The protests began as peaceful demonstrations against an extradition bill that would allow suspected criminals to be deported to China for trial. Protesters feared this would threaten Hong Kong’s rule of law and freedom of speech, as dissidents and activists are often arrested on trumpedup charges.
The embattled Ms. Lam has suspended the bill and called it “dead,” but she has not withdrawn it, leaving a legal possibility for reviving the bill once protests die down.
Protesters’ demands have expanded from withdrawal of the bill to demands for democratic reform, Ms. Lam’s resignation, and independent investigation of alleged police abuse of force and collusion with gangs.
Chinese state media argues that the young would be satisfied if they could benefit from financial prosperity through further integration with mainland China, but many Hong Kongers see Beijing’s existing control as a core reason for economic inequality, lack of welfare and declining living standards in the densely populated territory.