Sage counsel for HK's future well-being

Speaking publicly for the first time about the turmoil in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, President Xi Jinping said that ending the violence and chaos and restoring order are the most important tasks for the SAR government at present.

His remarks came after he was updated on the situation in the SAR by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, when they met on the sidelines of the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Monday.

Countering rumors that the central authorities have lost confidence in her government's ability to quell the unrest, he said they had a "high degree of trust" in her administration being able to stabilize the situation in the SAR. Urging her to be firm, he said that stopping the violence and punishing the perpetrators in accordance with the law is the way to safeguard the well-being of ordinary people in Hong Kong; the majority who just want to get on with their lives.