Hong Kong police show footage of a rioter slashing an officer's neck on Oct. 13, 2019. The police press briefing is held on Oct. 14, 2019. (Xinhua)
In their rampage in Hong Kong on Sunday, rioters tried to snatch police guns, hurled petrol bombs at police vehicles and even slashed at an officer's neck. Such malicious acts drew strong condemnation from various sectors of Hong Kong.
A rioter attacked with a sharp object and slashed at an officer's neck at Kwun Tong metro station Sunday afternoon. The injured officer was still under treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.
Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation strongly condemned the cold-blooded and brutal acts and urged Hong Kong people from all walks of life to say no to violence.
Rioters who committed the intended, organized violent acts could be charged with felonies including attempted murder and arson, the foundation said, calling on the police to make thorough investigations and the court to impose strict punishment.
Lawrence Ma, barrister and chairman of the foundation said the attacker who slashed the officer in the neck could face life imprisonment.
Retired magistrate Symon Wong Yu-wing said the suspect arrested on the scene should not be granted bail.
Lam Suk-yee, a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference's National Committee, said Hong Kong people should speak out altogether against violence and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) should take strong measures to stop violence.
Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Staff General Association said violence can not be tolerated. "All sectors of society must dissociate from violence. If we don't speak out against violence, the society will be pushed off the cliff."
An advocate group for the anti-mask law, with lawmaker Elizabeth Quat as the convener, condemned the brutal attack on police officers, calling it an attempted murder.
"We support the police in bringing criminals to justice and we urge the HKSAR government to... take strong measures as soon as possible to stop violence and uphold the rule of law in prevention of such 'broken window' effect from spreading," the statement said.
The Federation of New Territories Youth published an article through its think tank saying that the HKSAR government should take a more hard-line stance and have more agencies work together to stop the violence.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department should clean up the illegal signs and the spray paint on the streets as soon as possible, and other disciplined services should also actively deal with emergency situations such as road blockage and arson, the article said.
The police must enforce the law strictly, said Hong Kong-based economist Lau Pui-king. "As the rioters are now at the end of their rope, the HKSAR government and the police should be more cautious," said Lau.
Chu Kar-kin, a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, pointed out that what the thugs have done was lawless and seriously challenged the governance of the HKSAR government, and such acts will be denounced by all Hong Kong residents.
