HK govt opposes resolutely unlawful actions by 'Occupy Central' movement

Hong Kong's government is resolute in opposing the unlawful occupation actions by the " Occupy Central" movement, said Hong Kong Chief Executive C Y Leung on Sunday.

Responding to the announcement that "Occupy Central" movement formally started on early Sunday morning, and to the two demands the movement made, namely the withdrawal of the decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development made on Aug. 31 by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) and the restart of the constitutional development consultation by the Chief Executive, Leung told a press conference here that the Police would continue to handle the situation in accordance with the law.

"I and my government have all along been listening attentively to the views of the members of public. The public are encouraged to express their aspirations peacefully, rationally and lawfully, and to respect and accommodate different views in the society," Leung said.

He stressed that the National People's Congress Standing Committee's (NPCSC) decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development has been made in strict accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law and after detailed and careful deliberation of the actual situation of Hong Kong and the views of various sectors of the community. "It is legally binding," he said.

The NPCSC has decided that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region elects its chief executive starting from 2017 by universal suffrage.

"This is an important step towards the constitutional development of Hong Kong and is surely better than a stalemate," Leung said.

"I and my government will, in accordance with the Basic Law and the relevant decision of the NPCSC, try our very best to implement the election of the chief executive by universal suffrage in 2017. "

He said that the government will launch the next stage of the consultation on constitutional development shortly.

Leung appealed to various sectors of the community to engage in rational discussions through peaceful and lawful means so as to allow the 5 million eligible voters in Hong Kong to elect the chief executive in 2017 for the first time in Hong Kong history by one person one vote.

On Dec. 4, 2013, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ( HKSAR) government published the Consultation Document on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 to formally commence a five-month public consultation to collect views from various sectors of the community on major issues and related questions on the electoral method.

The central government said on Sunday afternoon that it firmly opposes all illegal activities that could undermine rule of law and jeopardize "social tranquility," and offers its strong backing to the HKSAR government in efforts to maintain Hong Kong's social stability and protect the personal and property safety of Hong Kong citizens.

The central government is fully confident that the HKSAR can handle the Occupy Central movement according to law, a spokesperson with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China' s State Council said on Sunday.

Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam said at the press conference that the NPCSC's decision is in accordance with the Basic Law and also a response to the demand of Hong Kong residents. This decision could be perceived as a new point to achieve universal suffrage for the chief executive election in 2017.

Lam highlighted the importance of the second round public consultation. she said that more concrete details need to be discussed between the HKSAR government and Hong Kong residents.

"Our objective is to hold an election which is fair, open, just, transparent and competitive, " Lam said.

She made an appeal to all sectors of Hong Kong to participate actively in the second round public consultation.

Tens of thousands protestors violently charged the police cordon line on Sunday and illegally blocked several key roads in Admiralty district where the government locates. When repetitive warnings ended in failure, the police fired volleys of tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Lai Tung-Kwok said that the rule of law lays the foundation of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. The residents can express their ideas, but resorting to violence and ignoring other's safety cannot be allowed.

He stressed that the government will take proper actions to prevent illegal act.

Tsang Wai-Hung, commissioner of police, said "Occupy Central" was a "unlawful assembly". He appealed to Hong Kong citizens not to take part in the assembly. He said that the police denounced the act that endangers public security and undermines the public order.

He reiterated that the police will deal with violent act decisively in order to restore the public order as soon as possible.