Protests disrupt city's stability and operations

Pushed to the brink

Violence and chaos escalated in August as protesters used guerrilla tactics to stage strikes, block public transportation, prevent residents from going to work, damage public facilities, besiege police stations and attack police officers across Hong Kong, pushing the city to the brink.

· On Aug 3, protesters sabotaged areas in Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok. They blocked the Cross-Harbor Tunnel twice, paralyzing traffic between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. They charged police stations in Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok and Wong Tai Sin, scribbled words to insult and provoke the police, ruined police vehicles and started fires in front of police stations.

· On Aug 4, protesters caused considerable damage in western Hong Kong Island, Causeway Bay and Tseung Kwan O by blocking roads and attacking several police stations. They later flocked to Hung Hom to block the Cross-Harbor Tunnel and to Golden Bauhinia Square to smear the sculpture.

· On Aug 5, flash mobs stirred up trouble across Hong Kong. They destroyed public facilities, including roadside railings, sidewalk slabs, traffic bollards and lights. As a result, 36 roads and the Cross-Harbor Tunnel were blocked, 96 buses were suspended or rerouted, eight MTR lines were obstructed and more than 200 flights canceled.

From the night of Aug 5 to the early hours of the following day, some radical protesters raided at least 10 police stations. They scribbled words to insult police, hurled petrol bombs and firebombs at police stations and officers, shot vision-harming lasers, ruined police cars, and caused mayhem on several streets, and at police stations and buildings. They also cut off power lines.

· On Aug 11, protesters threw petrol bombs and wounded at least one policeman.

· On the evening of Aug 13 and early on Aug 14, violent acts occurred at Hong Kong International Airport. Some radicals attending an unlawful assembly at the airport inflicted severe physical harm on two residents of the Chinese mainland.

Around 8 pm on Aug 13, they unlawfully detained a resident from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, surnamed Xu, who held a Hong Kong and Macao travel permit for private visit purposes and was at the airport to see people off. They tied him up, shot a laser at his eyes and beat him unconscious.

They also obstructed the way for an ambulance crew to take him to hospital. With the help of the police, it took nearly four hours for Xu to be rescued. As the events played out, they also besieged and assaulted a police officer and snatched his baton.

After midnight on Aug 14, some protesters tied both hands of a Global Times reporter surnamed Fu and beat him, suspecting him to be a fake reporter, causing multiple injuries.

The protesters have become better equipped, coordinated and planned, and they have continued to push the level of violence to new heights. Many weapon caches containing explosives, firebombs and knives suspected to be owned by radical protesters have been uncovered in police operations.

From June 9 to Aug 6, the Hong Kong police arrested 589 people suspected of illegal assembly, rioting and assaulting the police.

What is more alarming is that anti-China forces in the West have colluded with local anti-China forces who intend to mess up Hong Kong. On multiple occasions, foreign nationals were seen meeting and talking with radical protesters. Recently, leaders of "Hong Kong independence" groups secretly met with officials of the United States Consulate General in Hong Kong. The day after their meeting, the groups said on social media that they plan to boycott classes in September.

It is incontrovertibly evident and without question that the Hong Kong opposition camp and radical groups have colluded with foreign forces. Certain forces in the US and Britain have deliberately ignored extreme violence in the illegal protests and attempted to portray mobsters as campaigners for "freedom, democracy and human rights".

During the recent riots, the Hong Kong Police Force has honored its duties and enforced the law with professionalism and great restraint. The police have been a pillar in safeguarding Hong Kong's social security and the last shield to uphold its social stability. It has maintained its reputation as one of the world's most outstanding police forces. From June 9 to Aug 5, 139 officers were injured on duty.