A principal official of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday severely condemned the desecration of the national flag and the continued violent acts.
Responding to extremists desecrating the national flag repeatedly in recent days, the official said in a statement that these acts blatantly challenged the authority of the central government, offended the state and national dignity, trampled on the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle, and deeply hurt the feelings of all Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots.
The official said the acts must be condemned and punished in accordance with the law.
Some rioters continued to escalate the violence, blocking roads, setting fires, vandalizing metro stations, besieging HKSAR government officials, beating up residents randomly, attacking police officers and trying to snatch their guns, the official noted.
The series of illegal acts with the characteristics of terrorism have crossed the bottom line of law and morality, severely threatened Hong Kong's social stability, and endangered the safety of people's lives and property.
The extremists' illegal assemblies and demonstrations and the rioters' violent acts have seriously endangered the economic and social development and stability of Hong Kong, and that stopping violence and restoring peace has become the most urgent aspiration of Hong Kong residents, the official said.
"We firmly support the HKSAR government and the police force to take all necessary actions, enforce the law strictly and promptly, and bring the rioters to justice, so as to stop violence and restore social order," the official said.
The official called on Hong Kong residents to recognize the nature of the illegal and violent acts and the serious harm to society, resolutely say "no" to violence and uphold the "one country, two systems" principle and the national dignity, and safeguard the justice, the rule of law, and the safety and stability of Hong Kong.
