Peaceful expression urged amid HK demonstrations

Protesters besieged Hong Kong's Legislative Council and government headquarters on Wednesday morning, blocked nearby roads and damaged cars in opposition to the city's extradition law amendments, throwing the city into chaos.

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the special administrative region's chief executive, said in an interview with the city's leading broadcaster - Television Broadcasts Ltd - that she was "saddened" and "worried" about the violent clashes during the day. Young people might end up doing something they may regret in the future, Lam said.

She appealed to the public to express their opinions in a rational and peaceful way.

Lam said the government will press ahead with the amendments despite the violent demonstrations.

Different authorities appealed to the public to stay calm. The special administrative region's Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung Kin-chung called on protesters to stop occupying the area and restrain themselves from unlawful behavior.

Similar to the illegal "Occupy Central" movement in 2014, tens of thousands of masked protesters, in opposition to the extradition law amendments, occupied the main roads outside the government headquarters and the Legislative Council Complex in Admiralty, Hong Kong Island, despite repeated orders by police to leave the sites. The chaos brought serious disruptions to traffic and nearby business activity.

Cheung made the appeal in a video speech released after the Legislative Council announced it will postpone the second reading of the bill, as the protesters have blocked the lawmakers' access to the Legislative Council building.

Cheung stressed that the proposed amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance only deal with suspects who have committed serious crimes outside the special administrative region.

He reiterated that the SAR government will strictly safeguard the rights of Hong Kong residents and the city's rule of law.

Following his appeal, a government spokesman also issued a statement calling on the public to stay away from the area and remain calm.

In Beijing, Geng Shuang, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated the central government's firm support for the SAR government's proposal to amend the extradition law. Hong Kong's mainstream public opinion is opposed to any acts that will jeopardize the city's prosperity and stability, Geng said.

The protest started in the early hours of Wednesday. Masked protesters equipped with umbrellas and goggles built metal barricades, and some protesters were seen prying bricks from the sidewalk.

In the afternoon, some protesters threw objects at the police, including bottles and trash bins. They also grabbed and rearranged the metal barricades set in front of the building. Tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray were used against protesters who stormed the line of police outside the building.

Some police officers were injured during the clashes. More than 20 protesters were injured and taken to hospitals.

Several public events were canceled. Some banks and stores in Admiralty and Wan Chai closed temporarily due to the demonstrations.

Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung strongly condemned the demonstrators' "irresponsible" conduct, which he said endangered the lives of the demonstrators and innocent people.

Lo urged them to stop clashing with police and occupying major roads of the city. He also called on the public to leave the area in an orderly manner for their safety.

The Colloquium of Six Religious Leaders of Hong Kong issued a statement on Wednesday, echoing the call for people to express their concerns through dialogue in a rational and peaceful way.

Hong Kong stocks tumbled on Wednesday as sentiments dimmed over a number of factors, including paralyzed traffic in the city's financial district.

The Hang Seng Index, the city's benchmark, dropped 1.73 percent, or 480.8 points, to close at 27,308.4 points on Wednesday.

Dai Kaiyi in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at luisliu@chinadailyhk.com

(China Daily Global 06/13/2019 page1)