Protesters' storming of HK govt building condemned

Spokesperson speaks on violent acts at HKSAR LegCo complex

BEIJING -- A spokesperson of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council spoke Tuesday of the violent act of storming the Legislative Council (LegCo) Complex in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The spokesperson expressed firm support for the HKSAR government and police in handling the incident, and for holding the violent offenders criminally accountable in accordance with the law.

July 1 is a day of great festivity for people from all walks of life in Hong Kong to commemorate the return of Hong Kong to the motherland and the establishment of the HKSAR, the spokesperson said.

Some ultra-radicals, however, under the excuse of opposing the HKSAR government amending related ordinances, stormed the LegCo complex in an extremely violent manner and wantonly damaged facilities there, the spokesperson said.

Seriously violating the law, the act tramples the rule of law in Hong Kong, undermines social order and the fundamental interests of Hong Kong, and is a blatant challenge to the bottom line of "one country, two systems," the spokesperson said. "We strongly condemn this act."

The central government resolutely supports the HKSAR government and police in implementing their duties in accordance with the law, and supports the HKSAR's related authorities in holding the violent offenders criminally accountable in accordance with the law, so as to restore the normal social order at an early date, guarantee residents' personal and property safety, and safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

HK CE condemns 'extreme use of violence' and vows to follow up

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor strongly condemned the extreme use of violence and vandalism by masked protesters who stormed into the city's legislature on Monday night.

She vowed to follow up the violent acts as they have undermined the city's long-cherished value of the rule of law, one of Hong Kong's cornerstones.

Meeting with the press at the early hours of Tuesday after the police had dispersed protesters, Lam said the violent and chaotic scenes have saddened and shocked a lot of people.

"This is something that we should seriously condemn because nothing is more important than the rule of law in Hong Kong," Lam said.

Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said those protesters have violated an array of serious offenses in the Public Order Ordinance, Crimes Ordinance and the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance.

Forcing their way into the LegCo is punishable up to two years under the Public Order Ordinance, Lee said.

Also condemning the act is the Commissioner of Police Lo Wai-chung, who said the protesters ignored repeated warnings by the police and resorted to violence.

The violent and radical behavior of protesters drew criticism from various sectors of the local community, who expressed strong condemnation for trashing one of the city's symbols of the rule of law.

Hundreds of radical protesters smashed glass walls of the LegCo Complex with wire mesh trolleys and metal poles on Monday afternoon. Metal fencing of the building was also dismantled.