Violence Is Intolerable

On the evening of July 21， some radical demonstrators stormed the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region （HKSAR）， defaced the national emblem and painted insulting words on the wall. The vicious acts have trampled the rule of law in Hong Kong and challenged the authority of the Central Government， and are absolutely intolerable.

Earlier， violent protesters stormed the HKSAR Legislative Council complex， surrounded the police headquarters， attacked police officers and illegally stored dangerous goods and large amounts of offensive weapons.

The protesters behaviors have gone far beyond peaceful demonstrations. The escalating incidents have revealed an attempt by this grouping and the forces behind it to paralyze the HKSAR Government， undermine the principle of “one country， two systems，”and impede Chinas development by throwing the SAR into disorder.

Such acts are unacceptable to the Central Government， as they threaten national sovereignty. Furthermore， they have damaged the fundamental interests of Hong Kong society and will not be accepted by those who care about the regions future.

The turnover of Hong Kongs catering and retail industries experienced a doubledigit decline in June. If the violence continues， Hong Kongs stability and prosperity as well as its local peoples well-being will be seriously affected.

On July 20， more than 300，000 Hong Kong residents rallied to voice support for the police， expressing their confidence and commitment to maintaining social order in accordance with the law. Only by safeguarding social order can Hong Kong maintain its competitive edge and long-term prosperity.

As the global economic structure undergoes profound adjustment and international competition intensifies， Hong Kong needs to focus on both the increasing economic downward pressure and the problems concerning residents livelihood. If Hong Kong fails to solve the violence problem， its issues and risks will only mount. As a result Hong Kongs rule of law， sound public security and free economic system will all suffer.

Therefore， necessary measures should be taken in accordance with the law to ensure the safety of Central Government organs based in Hong Kong， safeguard the rule of law and punish criminals. The people of Hong Kong should clearly recognize the nature and harm of violent protests and stay committed to the principle of “one country， two systems” and the rule of law. With the support of the Central Government and Hong Kong residents， the HKSAR Government will surely restore social order.