Anti-government protests in Hong Kong, supported by Western countries, have transformed the world’s economic centre into a “city shrouded in violence”.
That was the statement made by Hong Kong Secretary of Security John Lee.
Terrorism is thriving in the city under the pretext of “fighting for democracy,” he said.
“In just a few months, Hong Kong has evolved from one of the safest cities in the world into a city shadowed by violence”, – the official said, assuring that the new national security law aims to correct the situation and ensure stability.
Hong Kong Police Commissioner Chris Tang, for his part, said that since June 2019, when pro-Western protests unfolded in the city, radicals have used explosives at least 14 times, “which are commonly used in terrorist acts. In addition, police had seized firearms and ammunition from “peaceful” demonstrators five times. Tang stressed that the police were supporting new legislation in the hope of ending the activities of extremists supported by Washington.
As News Front earlier reported, the Chinese government is introducing a national security law in Hong Kong. The document, among other things, criminalizes foreign interference and subversion of state power in this administrative region of China. Thus, it complicates anti-government activities here and the State Department has already demanded from Beijing not to prevent Washington from interfering in Hong Kong affairs.
On the eve, riots erupted again in the city. The brutality of the radicals forced the security forces to disperse those using water cannons and tear gas. Over 180 particularly violent troublemakers were detained. The riots are expected to resume on Wednesday against the backdrop of a local parliament meeting.
Anti-government protests in Hong Kong
In June 2019, mass actions began in Hong Kong, with pogroms and clashes with police. The official reason for the protests was an extradition bill. If passed, Hong Kong could detain and extradite to Beijing those wanted by Chinese security agencies.
The demonstrators were openly supported by Western countries, particularly the US and the UK. The protests themselves continued even after the authorities refused to pass the law. The most absurd reasons were invented to hold the protests. For example, at the end of August last year, radicals smashed underground stations ostensibly because of poor quality of service, and also demolished “smart” lampposts collecting information about road traffic and air pollution levels. The fact is that the protesters saw them as a system of total surveillance by the authorities.
Actions in Hong Kong stopped amid a coronavirus pandemic and resumed in late April. In particular, a series of actions took place on 1 May, and ten days later riots with barricades and arson erupted in Hong Kong.