The most pressing task for Hong Kong at present is to bring the violence and chaos to an end and restore order. The greatest danger to Hong Kong is that violence continues while the rule of law is overshadowed. Most residents in Hong Kong oppose violence, support the rule of law and want to preserve the peace.
Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a speech on the current situation in Hong Kong while he attended the 11th BRICS summit in Brasilia, Brazil. In the speech, Xi pointed out the severe damage done by radical violent crime acts and the essence of it. Xi declared the basic stance and attitude the Chinese central government holds towards Hong Kong. Xi also provided a guideline for Hong Kong to end the violence and chaos and restore order.
The speech strongly supports the HKSAR government led by Carrie Lam and is a huge encouragement to Hong Kong residents, as well as a rigorous warning to radical rioters and the forces that surreptitiously support them. The speech also shows the firm determination of the central government to resolutely oppose and defeat internal and external forces plotting to intervene in Hong Kong.
Five months of large-scale illegal violent acts have put Hong Kong in a critical position. Especially, the recent continuous radical illegal violent acts have seriously trampled on the rule of law and social order, have undermined Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and have challenged the bottom line and the principle of "one country, two systems."
In many districts across Hong Kong, rioters have committed frantic acts of vandalism and arson including paralyzing transportation, damaging railway lines, throwing petrol bombs at trains, indiscriminately harming citizens and introducing violence onto university campuses.
The public is living in fear, personal security is not guaranteed, civil rights such as freedom of speech are being severely deprived and Hong Kong’s core values such as the rule of law are greatly undermined. If the violence is not halted and the rule of law is overshadowed, Hong Kong citizens can hardly live peaceful lives and Hong Kong’s development can make little progress. It has become a fight between safeguarding and undermining “one country, two systems” a fight between upholding or trampling on Hong Kong’s rule of law, and a fight between maintaining and destroying Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.
The suppression and punishment of violence in accordance with the law is to safeguard the well-being of the people of Hong Kong, which requires strong governance and decisive action by all institutions with public power. For more than five months, led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the HKSAR government has tried to stabilize the situation and improve the social environment. Hong Kong police have behaved conscientiously and fearlessly, always being on the frontline to stop riots.
At a time of urgency, all walks of life in Hong Kong should further build consensus and consciously support the HKSAR government and police in cracking down on and punishing violent criminal activities in accordance with the law and support the HKSAR prosecution and judiciary in performing their duties to bring all violent criminals to justice.
There’s no middle ground or hesitation on the issue of stopping riots, which is crucial to Hong Kong’s future and cannot be shaken.
Hong Kong is part of China. Its destiny has always been closely linked to the motherland. The central government, together with 1.4 billion Chinese people, will always be Hong Kong’s strongest support in overcoming any risk or challenge. The central government will continue to firmly support the HKSAR government in accordance with the law, safeguard the well-being of the people in Hong Kong by stopping riots, and unswervingly promote national sovereignty, security and development benefits.
It’s believed that under the unwavering support of the central government, all walks of life in Hong Kong will be united to fight riots and restore order, safeguarding the home of 7.5 million Hongkongers.