Law and order bedrock for Hong Kong's prosperity

Following on from the earlier violence that erupted during protests against the proposed amendments to the territory's extradition laws, there were more clashes between police and demonstrators on Monday, when Hong Kong celebrated the 22nd anniversary of its founding as a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997.

The unrest is among those, particularly Hong Kong's youth, who feel unable to benefit from the SAR's development and excluded from its decision-making process - sentiments that have led to populist movements elsewhere - and those who are using these grievances and disturbances as a means to serve their own agendas and put pressure on Beijing.

In her speech at a flag-raising ceremony on Monday morning, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor acknowledged that her administration has to do more to grasp public sentiments accurately and pledged her government's work will be closer and more responsive to the aspirations, sentiments and opinions of the whole community.