China Urges End To Hong Kong Protests, Backs Regional Leader

Beijing: China’s government on Monday urged for the restoration of “law and order” in its special-status territory Hong Kong and reiterated its support for the city’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam as well as police measures against ongoing anti-government protests. It was the first time that Chinese authorities gave a press conference on HK since the former British colony, which nowadays retains significant autonomy from mainland China, was handed over to Beijing in 1997, media reports said.

The Chinese government accused pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong of committing “evil and criminal acts” that seriously damaged the semi-autonomous city’s “reputation” and “stability”. At a press conference in Beijing on Monday, HK and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) spokesman Yang Guang called the situation in Hong Kong “grave”, adding that Beijing would not allow any challenge to the Chinese government’s authority or threats to national security.

“No civilization or society under the rule of law would ever allow acts of violence to take place. We call on the general public of HK to be aware of the grave nature of the current situation,” Yang said. (IANS)

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