HK heavyweights regret June 9 clashes

Heavyweights in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region expressed regret and disapproval over violence against police by radical protesters in an unauthorized assembly following Sunday’s mass protest.

HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor lamented clashes between radical protesters and the city’s police early on Monday.

The clashes took place in an unauthorized assembly that followed a Sunday public procession against the government’s amendments to the city’s extradition regulations. The revision will allow Hong Kong to surrender fugitives on a case-by-case basis to jurisdictions that do not have long-term rendition agreements with the SAR.

During clashes that happened near the Legislative Council Complex in Admiralty, Hong Kong Island, radical protesters refused to leave the site after midnight despite police officers’ repeated calls to leave. The protesters later attacked police officers and blocked the roads. At least three police officers and one journalist were hurt.

The unauthorized assembly ended around 6 am, after the law enforcement action.

Meeting the media hours later, Lam noted the government would not withdraw its proposal on amending the extradition law, as it is an effective way to prevent Hong Kong from being a haven for fugitives.

But she also promised more work would be done to enhance the bill, which would go through a second reading at the SAR’s Legislative Council on Wednesday as scheduled.

Lam said the SAR government would make human rights safeguards of the bill legally binding and would regularly report to the legislature implementation of the bill after it is passed.

Other heavyweights also expressed their strong disapproval of some protesters’ conduct.

Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung Kin-chung condemned the violence. He said the government would continue to attentively and humbly listen to public opinion on the amendments.

Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung strongly condemned the conduct of demonstrators and underlined the police will follow up on cases and identify the law-breakers who disguised themselves by wearing masks.

In a statement responding to the incident issued on Monday morning, the non-official members of the Executive Council, an organ for assisting the chief executive in policymaking, expressed regret over the violent acts of a small minority of protesters.

The non-official members reiterated their support for the government's move, since it follows Hong Kong's obligations in combating transnational and cross-boundary crimes, prevents Hong Kong from becoming a safehouse for criminals and protects Hong Kong's international reputation, per the statement.