Beijing authorities call on Hong Kong government to restore social order as soon as possible and condemn protesters who stormed legislature
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- But pan-democrats defend protesters, one lawmaker saying, ‘They are just fighting for their future’
Beijing’s authority overseeing Hong Kong affairs has condemned the violence of protesters who stormed and vandalised the Legislative Council and called on the government to restore social order as soon as possible.
The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, along with Beijing’s liaison office in the city, joined the pro-establishment camp in condemning Monday’s violence, even as pro-democracy groups and opposition lawmakers struck a softer tone, saying the government was also to blame for its poor handling of the crisis surrounding a now-suspended extradition bill.
Outside the political sphere, wider society, including parents, youths, teachers, social workers and the religious sector, was divided, with some decrying the violence while others were more understanding of why protesters resorted to such actions.
The protesters had been calling for the government to fully withdraw the bill instead of just suspending it.
If passed, the bill would allow the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions with which the city has no extradition deal, including mainland China, where critics say there is no guarantee of a fair trial.
