PD Editorial: HK's top priority is to stop violence and restore order
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The escalating protest violence has thrust Hong Kong into an extremely dangerous situation in recent days. The radical protesters destroyed pubic property, set fires, paralyzed public transport, threw petrol bombs at operating vehicles and launched random attacks on citizens in multiple districts.

The most pressing task for Hong Kong at present is to bring violence and chaos to an end and restore order, said President Xi Jinping while attending the 11th BRICS summit in Brazil. 

Xi also affirmed Chinese government’s resolution of protecting national sovereignty, security and development interests, implementing the "one country, two systems" policy and opposing any external force interfering in Hong Kong's affairs.

Rioters described themselves as victims, but harassed innocent Hong Kong residents. They called their demonstrations “peaceful” but conspired to set fires and attack Hong Kong police. They asserted that they are fighting for democracy but silenced and assaulted any dissenter standing in their way.

What the rioters in Hong Kong have done over the past five months has repeatedly challenged the boundaries of “peaceful rallies,” “freedom of speech” and the moral principles of humankind. 

The anti-extradition bill protest is nothing but an excuse used by Hong Kong rioters to spread terror. They harvested political gains from violence and chaos and put the entire city in peril.

The violence will backfire and those who show sympathy for the radical protesters will pay the price too. Hong Kong’s economy fell two quarters in a row, sliding into a technical recession and facing a risk of negative full-year economic growth. The endless violence and chaos has damaged the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s prospects and its people’s well-being depend on when peace and order returning to the city. 

No societies will tolerate extreme violence. We firmly support the actions by government, police and judiciary bodies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to crackdown on crimes and terrorism in accordance with the law and protect the life and property of Hong Kong residents. We call on all of Hong Kong society to stand up and speak out against rioters and unite every citizen who truly loves Hong Kong to advocate for the rule of law. We strongly oppose any interference with the Hong Kong situation, a completely internal affair of China.

The violence and chaos in Hong Kong has to stop. It is both a sentiment felt by the public and an irresistible trend. 

(Compiled by Li Bowen)