Several Hong Kong rioters ransacked the Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau office building of China’s official Xinhua News Agency on Saturday. The mob spray-painted insulting words on the walls and smashed the front gate and some of its windows. They also threw firebombs and paint bombs into the lobby and committed vandalism in it after trespassing.

In Mong Kok, the black-clad rioters besieged and stripped clothes off an onlooker. The victim was beaten unconscious on the street.

The rioters' savage behaviors are nothing but an insult to notions of human rights and democracy that they had promoted. It makes people wonder if these shameless and violent acts are what Nancy Pelosi, the US House of Representatives Speaker, has described as “a beautiful sight to behold.”

From attacking a news reporter at an airport to beating innocent civilians on the street, from cyberbullying to physical assault, radical rioters in Hong Kong are trying to spread horror and suppress different voices. They also told blatant lies without conscience to demean those who are supportive to the local government and police.

Every citizen who cares for Hong Kong is desperate for the end of the riots and chaos. The thugs will only be more encouraged if they are tolerated. All journalists should speak out for justice, all citizens should stand out against violence. The thugs' violent way of threatening news agencies and beating up citizens who held different political opinions will never distort those patriotic minds; instead, it will only boost the voice calling for justice and order.

No country in the world would tolerate the violence against the news agency. The attack on news agency based in Hong Kong was a blatant violation of the laws safeguarding freedom of the press. This severely crossed the bottom line of civilized behavior, public order and moral standard, and maliciously harmed the patriotism of Hong Kong compatriots. Therefore, those thugs must receive severe punishment according to the law. 

At least 3 opposition activists were under arrest by the Hong Kong police after the shocking scenes of violence on the streets. These self-proclaimed "pan-democrats" did not reject violence; instead, they incited and indulged in violence, manufacturing the chaos on purpose. Those are the real culprits for the violence after their masks of “democracy” were removed. Their vicious intention is to paralyze and divide Hong Kong society and destroy the rule of law and public order.  However, their efforts will be in vain and boomerang on themselves in the end.

The serious illness needs harsh treatment. Silence and tolerance will only escalate violence. All Hong Kong citizens caring for the city and all unbiased and objective press professionals should be determined and stand together in support of Hong Kong police action, saying “No” to violence and bringing rioters to justice. Only in this way could Hong Kong be saved and secured.

(Compiled by Shen Feng, Ryan Yaoran Yu and Da Hang)