BRICS/China warns foreign forces against fomenting violent protests in Hong Kong

Thu Aug 15, 2019 05:55PM, Press TV (Iran) https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/08/15/603607/China-Liu-Xiaoming-Hong-Kong-protests-UK-US

China says unidentified foreign forces are instigating violent protest rallies in Hong Kong, warning them that Beijing has noticed their “conniving” attempts and that they only inflict damage on themselves.

“Foreign forces must stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs,” said Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming during a press conference held in London on Thursday.

The international financial hub has for well over two months plunged to unrest and is the scene of massive anti-government demonstrations over an extradition bill that if enacted would allow local authorities to detain and extradite suspects to be tried in mainland courts.

Although the government of the semi-autonomous Chinese region has effectively backed away from the bill, protests have persisted with individuals sometimes resorting to violence and vandalizing

government buildings.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam and a permanent withdrawal of the controversial bill.

Anti-government protesters block the entrance to the airport terminals after a scuffle with police at Hong Kong International Airport late on August 13, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

“Stop conniving in violent offenses - they should not misjudge the situation and go down the wrong path otherwise they will lift the stone only to drop it on their own feet,” Liu added.

He said the situation in Hong Kong would not have deteriorated to the current extent had it not been “for the interference and incitement of foreign forces.”

Liu further emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China and that no foreign country should meddle in the city’s “internal affairs”, warning that Beijing would “not sit on its hands” over the riots.

He also warned that if the situation worsened further in the region, the Chinese government would act to “quell unrest.”

"We have enough solutions and enough power within the limits of basic law to quell any unrest swiftly. Their moves are severe and violent offences, and already show signs of terrorism,” Liu said.

The Chinese ambassador to the UK also lambasted Western media for what he called unbalanced reporting and confusing right and wrong.

Liu’s remarks came as thousands of Chinese military personnel paraded at the Shenzhen Bay stadium in Shenzhen, a city in mainland China that borders Hong Kong.

Pictures released by agencies showed dozens of trucks and armored personnel carriers at and outside the stadium, which is situated just across a bridge that is one of the main access roads connecting the mainland with Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has been governed under a “one-country, two-system” model since the city — a former British colony — was returned to China in 1997.

China has repeatedly warned against violence in the region and has already said foreign countries, mainly the United States and Britain, have been provoking the riots. Beijing has asked the two countries to stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Liu blamed some British politicians who still regard the international financial hub as part of the British empire.

“Good relations between the UK and China have to be based on no UK interference by the UK in China's internal affairs,” he insisted.

In the last few days, the ongoing protest rallies led to the Hong Kong International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, and forced it to close.

BRICS, China/Comentário: Ambiente de negócios de Hong Kong não tolera violência nem caos

16.08.2019 11h17, Diário do Povo Online (China) http://portuguese.people.com.cn/n3/2019/0816/c309814-9606690.html

Fonte: Xinhua    

Beijing, 16 ago (Xinhua) -- À medida em que a violência feroz atual afunda Hong Kong em um fosso enorme, a economia e seu ambiente de negócios que costumavam estar entre as mais competitivas do mundo estão agora em perigo.

Nos últimos dois meses, os manifestantes radicais têm causado danos severos em Hong Kong. Na semana passada, todos os tipos de atividades destrutivas ganharam impulso na região.

Os manifestantes bloquearam ferrovias e túneis, atacaram a polícia e paralisaram o Aeroporto Internacional, resultando em numerosos voos cancelados. Eles chegaram até a agredir brutalmente turistas e jornalistas que estavam na região.

A violência gerou preocupações e receio em relação a cidade que costumava ser amada pelos turistas e empresários de todo o mundo por seu ambiente seguro e amistoso.

Estatísticas dos sindicatos do setor de turismo de Hong Kong mostram que, nos últimos dois meses, a receita média dos operadores de negócios turísticos caiu quase 80% em termos anuais, com mais de 10% deles sem renda.

A indústria no varejo na região também sofreu um duro golpe, pois tanto as vendas varejistas quanto os aluguéis das lojas no centro da cidade despencaram.

Um ambiente seguro de negócios é a corda de salvamento do desenvolvimento de Hong Kong, já que a região se orgulhava de suas condições favoráveis, como o Estado de direito, o transporte conveniente, a indústria financeira desenvolvida, os serviços públicos eficientes e os especialistas internacionais.

Os esforços consistentes de Hong Kong na construção de um saudável ambiente de negócios são fundamentais para atrair investimento e visitantes do mundo inteiro.

O ambiente de negócios é tão essencial para Hong Kong quanto o ar e água para os seres humanos. Os atos violentos contínuos estão envenenando esse ambiente e corroendo a confiança da comunidade internacional em Hong Kong, o que provocará danos fatais para o desenvolvimento da região, se não forem detidos com medidas fortes.

Hong Kong, próspera e fascinante, criada pelos esforços de gerações de compatriotas da região e construída e mantida com anos de trabalho árduo, não pode ser devorada pela violência.

Para salvá-la, acabar com a violência e o caos é de urgência máxima.

(Web editor: Zhang Rong, editor)

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Police in contact with the public

August 15, 2019, Government of Hong Kong (China) https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2019/08/20190815/20190815_173513_203.html?type=ticker

The Police have been in close communication with the public to prepare people for potential protests.

Police Public Relations Branch Chief Superintendent Tse Chun-chung made the statement in a press conference today.

Mr Tse said the Sham Shui Po Police Station received hundreds of letters from community organisations and members of the community expressing concerns over the potential violence used by radical protesters.

“We have also forewarned them about the potential use of tear gas in the dispersal operation.

“This shows Police have close communication with the public to help them prepare for potential protests taking place in their communities.

“We are aware that some members of the public are concerned about the use of tear gas in residential areas. I hope they understand that the Police never wish to use tear gas or deploy any kind of force.

“Our force is always used in response to the violence of the protesters.”

Mr Tse added that as many as 700 radical protesters surrounded Sham Shui Po Police Station yesterday night, shooting marbles and laser beams at police officers and buildings.

He said officers deployed tear gas and minimum force to disperse protesters after conducting a risk assessment and restored public order in the area within a short period.

“It’s the fourth time in 10 days the Sham Shui Po Police Station was maliciously damaged.

“I would like to stress that Police always respect the right to assembly and freedom of speech, but using violence to achieve their goals is not to be tolerated by society. The Police strongly condemn all these violent acts.”