Law, stability 'fundamental' for HK

The central government's top official in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region stressed on Thursday that the rule of law and social stability are "fundamental" for Hong Kong in the wake of a series of violent incidents over a now-suspended bill proposing an amendment to the region's extradition bill.

Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, spoke at a ceremony to launch a preparatory committee for Hong Kong's celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Wang said he was saddened by the violence, especially the break-in and vandalism at the city's Legislative Council Complex by some radical protesters in an "extremely uncivilized" way that shocked the country and the world.