Hong Kong society cannot remain silent as the city sinks

Nearly half a million people gathered in Hong Kong's central business district on Saturday afternoon, calling for an immediate end to violence perpetrated by anti-government radicals under the pretense of opposing - the now dead - extradition bill. Braving suffocating summer heat and some rain, the 476,000 participants demanded stronger law enforcement action to end the violence and restore order in the special administrative region.

That the participants of Saturday's "Oppose violence, save Hong Kong" rally far outnumbered those of the previous large-scale pro-police and anti-violence rally on July 20, which saw more than 300,000 residents take part, indicates that a growing number of Hong Kong residents who oppose the violent demonstrations feel they can no longer keep silent, as the city they call home is being pushed to the brink of an abyss by political extremists and radical elements.

The previously silent majority of residents feel they can no longer remain by-standers as the city's stability and rule of law are destroyed by extremists and their foreign backers who are holding the well-being of 7.5 million Hong Kong residents to political ransom.