Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, expressed sincere hopes that Hong Kong will soon get over the dispute over the proposed extradition law amendments when he commented on the extradition controversy on Thursday.

His remarks reflected the central government's deep concern for the future of the SAR and the well-being of Hong Kong people, which are under threat from the civil disturbance.

Indeed, the current unhealthy social atmosphere has been troubling Hong Kong for more than a month and will only do more damage until it is ended. The great majority of Hong Kong people must decide now what is more important - economic development and their livelihood or political wrangling that has nearly paralyzed the government.

Weeks of turmoil featuring violent behaviors and unlawful acts are more than enough to show that prolonging the dispute would only do further damage to the city. Hong Kong's much cherished rule of law, social harmony and political stability, key factors underpinning its long-term prosperity, have been badly undermined.

Persistent political bickering will get us nowhere. It would only inflict pain on people by hurting the economy and eventually their livelihoods at a time when the Hong Kong economy is still licking its wounds from the Sino-US trade tensions.

Wang reiterated the central government's steadfast support for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her administration in exercising law-based governance. He also affirmed the central government's firm support for Hong Kong police in performing their duties. Indeed, a stable and prosperous Hong Kong is not only in the interest of Hong Kong people but also in the best interest of the mainland.

On the contrary, stability and prosperity are not in the interest of the opposition camp and their foreign allies, who have been exploiting every social or political dispute in the city to advance their own agenda and embarrass the nation.

This explains why they have gone all out to keep alive the extradition law amendment controversy by stirring up public emotion with any tactics they can think of. They did this with other political and social issues before. But they are not going to succeed. The majority of Hong Kong people are fully aware that neither the opposition camp nor their foreign allies care about the well-being of Hong Kong.

For their own sake, Hong Kong people must now put aside their political differences and refocus on economic development and livelihood issues.

(HK Edition 07/12/2019 page12)