Observer: Foreign interference to be ceased for the future of Hong Kong
By Han Xiaomeng
People's Daily app
1577890092000

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The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) issued a statement Wednesday to refute an open letter from a group of overseas politicians and persons to chief executive Carrie Lam. The letter demonstrated a rather biased and groundless view towards the situation in Hong Kong and inherently interfered in China's internal affairs.

The letter's signatories ignore the ways Hong Kong police enforce the laws, which are always in a restrained manner. Over Christmas and even during the past six months, only when protesters held illegal activities would the Hong Kong police resort to minimum and proportionate force necessary to maintain public safety and order.

The letter called on the Hong Kong police to "respect the right to peaceful protest". It ignored the ironclad fact that what haunted Hong Kong in the past six months was no longer peaceful protest but rampant violence. Violence swirled out of control and reached an alarming level. 

Rioters challenged the city's order and rule of law by vandalizing shops, smashing public facilities, setting fires, turning campuses into war zones, hurling petrol bombs and attacking police and ordinary citizens.

Let the numbers speak. It's reported that 520 police officers have been injured on duty up to now. Meanwhile, no protesters were killed due to direct police action. On New Year's Eve, rioters hurled petrol bombs in various districts, damaging a police vehicle and three private cars. 

Reconciliation requires the efforts from both sides. Just like local police officers keep saying, if protesters do not use violence, there would not be any necessity for Hong Kong police to resort to lawful use of force to defend themselves. If protesters are peaceful, rational and orderly, the police will not and have no reason to intervene. 

Supporting radicals is by no means supporting Hong Kong, as the two sides stand on the opposite side of justice, peace and stability. By posing threats to the lives of Hongkongers who hold different views, supporting rioters is risking the future of the city.

The peace and prosperity of Hong Kong should be maintained and secured by all Hongkongers and the SAR government. With rose-colored glasses, Western politicians will never see the true picture in Hong Kong. For the Pearl of the Orient to shine again, foreign interference shall be ceased so that the city can restore peace and order.