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Authorities condemn violence, takeover of LegCo

Global Times

By Yang Sheng Source:Global Times Published: 2019/7/2 0:58:39

Thousands of residents in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday celebrated the 22nd anniversary of the city's return to China with a flag-raising ceremony and lion dance performances.

At 8 am, the flag of the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong SAR regional flag were raised at the Golden Bauhinia Square accompanied by the national anthem.

Two SAR government helicopters hoisted the national flag and the regional flag over Victoria Harbor. A fire truck sprayed water on the harbor.

Hung Kam-in, a member of the Kwun Tong District Council in Hong Kong, attended six different celebration activities held in the district on Monday.

"The celebrations featured local residents singing patriotic songs, dancing and even playing games and quizzes on the 22nd anniversary of the city's return," Hung told the Global Times.

"Hong Kong residents could feel the positive energy of the Hong Kong and our country from the events, which may also help residents have a correct understanding of the special administrative region especially amid the recent incidents," Hung said.

Some 5,000 Hong Kong residents gathered at Victoria Park, shouting "I Love Hong Kong and Hong Kong fighting!"

SAR government and central government officials attended the ceremony, including Tung Chee-hwa, former Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive and vice chairman of the national committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, and Wang Zhimin, director of the liaison office of the central government in the HKSAR. Affected by the weather, the guests observed the ceremony inside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lam said that since Hong Kong returned to the motherland 22 years ago, Hong Kong has experienced some changes and ups and downs in political, economic and social areas. "Yet, Hong Kong has, generally speaking, remained stable and prosperous," she said.

Unfortunately, violence also emerged. Some protesters clashed with residents who gathered to celebrate the anniversary and had also tried to interrupt the flag raising ceremony.

On Monday night, the protesters smashed windows and stormed in, occupying and vandalizing the LegCo chamber. The protesters had been spraying slogans on the walls, damaging official portraits and symbols and attacking surveillance cameras, local radio RTHK reported.

Hong Kong police said they were ready to move in to clear the area around the LegCo chamber. They severely condemned the violent attack and also appealed to unrelated protesters to leave the vicinity.

Tian Feilong, an expert on Hong Kong and an associate professor at Beihang University, said "the constant violence the protesters have stirred proves that a majority of them wanted to disturb Hong Kong. All the reasons such as human rights or the extradition bill are their excuses and their true purpose was to create trouble and further harm Hong Kong's stability."

Tian said the regional government and police, and the central government should enforce the law firmly and quickly put down the riot. Otherwise, the continuing turmoil will seriously jeopardize Hong Kong.