Outside meddling has colored protests

Following the storming of the Legislative Council and the vandalizing of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, unapproved protests on Saturday and Sunday have brought the lawlessness surrounding the recent anti-extradition law amendment to a new high. Unlike previous protests, the weekend rallies were not approved by the police because of the escalating violence in the associated areas - Yuen Long on Saturday and Western District on Sunday.

However, ban-defying protesters still gathered. And, just like in previous protests, violence broke out later with rioters wearing helmets and face masks, some armed with metal rods, hurling bricks at police officers.

Such illegal assemblies, not to mention the ensuing violence, are a clear demonstration of the protesters' total defiance of the law. They no longer bother to pretend that their acts are lawful and peaceful expressions of opinions. Without police approval for the protests, they broke the law from the very beginning.