The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) released a press statement Thursday condemning the malicious acts of rioters and vowed to bring offenders to justice after masked rioters attacked an elderly man in his 70s with bricks and other hard objects. 

The elderly man, who is an outsourced worker of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, was attacked during his lunch break on Wednesday. He sustained head injuries and is medically critical.

Per the statement, the government is in contact with the victim's family to provide necessary assistance.

"The government strongly condemns the protesters and rioters who disregarded law and order and deprived the freedom and rights of other members of the public," said the statement.

There has been an escalation of violence this week in the HKSAR, with masked rioters carrying out extremely dangerous acts across districts in defiance of laws and warnings. Apart from setting up road barricades and vandalizing public facilities, rioters attacked the public and disrupted university activities on Wednesday, leading to a city-wide suspension of all schools today.