Restoring order urgent task in HK

State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi said on Friday that ending violence and restoring order is still the most urgent task for Hong Kong at the moment, and he hoped that Hong Kong police could be firm and confident in safeguarding the rule of law in the special administrative region.

Zhao said the central government and the ministry will stand firmly behind police in Hong Kong, and expressed hope that mainland police and Hong Kong police could strengthen cooperation to jointly safeguard national security and protect Hong Kong's social stability.

He made the remarks while meeting with Tang Ping-keung, Hong Kong's newly appointed police commissioner, in Beijing, according to a ministry release.

Zhao said President Xi Jinping, in his speech made on Nov 14, highlighted the serious harm and nature of violent crimes by radicals in Hong Kong, and made it clear the basic position and attitude of the central government on the situation in the SAR.

In the past few months, police in Hong Kong have made arduous efforts to safeguard the rule of law, maintain social stability, protect the safety of local residents and properties as well as safeguard the "one country, two systems" principle and protect national security in Hong Kong, Zhao said.

He said police have played the role of stabilizer in the above-mentioned areas, and expressed hope that Hong Kong police, under the leadership of Tang, will maintain high morale, and be confident and resolute while performing their duties in the future.

He stressed that to end violence and restore order remains the most urgent task for Hong Kong, and he hopes that Hong Kong police will achieve this goal as soon as possible.

Tang said police in Hong Kong are committed to the effort to stop riots and restore order in the city as soon as possible. Police will unite all sectors of Hong Kong society to safeguard the principle of "one country, two systems", and strive for the prosperity and stability of the special administrative region, according to the ministry release.