SCIO briefing on the current situation in Hong Kong
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 4, 2019
Xi Yanchun:
Let's give today's last question to the foreign reporter sitting in the back row.
Channel NewsAsia:
This weekend, Hong Kong has witnessed demonstrations for the 13th week. The demonstrators and the HKSAR government are still deadlocked. As the violence continue to escalate, and as the remarks of the Chief Executive have been caught on record, how will Beijing help the Hong Kong SAR government restore normality and order as well as lasting peace and security in Hong Kong? In addition, what is Beijing's view on the reports on the Hong Kong incident overseas on the internet and in traditional media, and what the actions will Beijing take to provide a clearer public understanding?
Xu Luying:
Thank you for your questions. You've raised several different questions. The first is what Beijing should do to help the Hong Kong SAR government restore order. Currently, the incident which originated from the proposed legal amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance has fundamentally changed regarding the nature of the protests. The most pressing and overriding task at the moment for Hong Kong is to stop violence, end chaos and restore order. The central government continues its staunch support for the HKSAR government led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam in governing the Hong Kong SAR according to the law, for the Hong Kong police in strict and just law-enforcement. Speaking of which, I'd like to say a few things about the Hong Kong police. As you've mentioned, the demonstrations, protests and violent clashes have lasted for 13 weeks already. We have seen that it is the Hong Kong police who have really been at the forefront in stopping violence and ending chaos. However, it is clear to everyone that the Hong Kong police have also become the targets of attack by these gangsters in extremely cruel and inhumane ways. So far, more than 200 policemen have been injured, one of whom lost part of his finger. In addition, according to incomplete statistics, in the three months since the beginning of the Hong Kong incident, the personal information of some 1,700 policemen, as well as their family members, has been illegally exposed and spread. Violence has caused severe physical and psychological damage to policemen and their family members. Nevertheless, under such circumstances, huge pressure and an urgent situation, the Hong Kong police have still maintained their professionalism and restraint when facing protestors. They applied a minimum level of armed forces, and strictly followed the rules of law-enforcement. Therefore, we believe that the Hong Kong police are worthy of the honor as the best police force in the world. In this regard, the central government firmly supports all necessary measures taken by the Hong Kong police and the HKSAR government to combat violence and end crimes. The central government continues its staunch support for all sectors who are assisting the Hong Kong police for law-enforcement, and the central government will continue to do its best to protect and care for the Hong Kong police as well as their family members. This is my response to your first question.
We have also seen that, during these 13 weeks of demonstrations, there are also citizens who seek to express their demands in a peaceful and legal way. We must distinguish between them and those engaged in criminal acts that create a violent terrorist attack and undermine the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle. The demands they have raised, especially the deep-seated problems reflected in the activities of these past two months, need our great attention. We hope Hong Kong society can focus on developing the economy, improving people's livelihood, rationally expressing their own demands, building consensus and seeking solutions through cooperative brainstorming. The central government will, as always, support Hong Kong in developing its economy, improving people's livelihood and integrating its own development into the overall development of the country.
Since the beginning of this year, the relevant central government departments have introduced a series of policies to Hong Kong and Macao to support the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. These policies are aimed at supporting the construction of an international technology and innovation hub, facilitating the flow of factors of production, promoting market integration, and making it easier for Hong Kong and Macao residents to live and work on the Chinese mainland, etc. Staged progress has been made in the implementation of all the policies. Looking forward, the relevant central government departments will continue to adopt more practical measures conducive to the development of Hong Kong and Macao as well as mainland-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation and exchanges. With strong support from the motherland, I believe Hong Kong will surly maintain its prosperity and stability. However, in the final analysis, it depends on the efforts made by Hong Kong itself as to whether it can seize the opportunities presented by the development of the motherland and make good use of the preferential policies and measures introduced by the central government.
At last, I would like to give my response to the question raised by the journalist from Phoenix TV. During nearly three months of protests and violent activities, we have seen several incidents where violent radicals insulted and burnt national flags, threw them into the sea; they also tarnished the national emblem. While strongly condemning the unscrupulous behavior by a very small number of "Hong Kong independence" activists, we should ask ourselves why such incidents have happened time and again in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China. We should ask ourselves whether we need to reflect on the national education being provided in Hong Kong, especially the cultivation of a sense of nationhood. I think it is high time we pay high attention to the national education, to the cultivation of a public sense of nationhood, and take effective measures to solve problems in society. Therefore, after the violence and chaos end and order is restored, both the HKSAR government and all Hong Kong people need to take enhancement of national education as an important task. It is a responsibility shared by the whole society and also the most responsible conduct towards the next generation of Hong Kong people. Thanks.
Xi Yanchun:
Thanks to the two speakers. Thank you all. This press conference is concluded.
Translated and edited by Chen Xia, Yuan Fang, Gong Yingchun, Zhang Liying, Liu Qiang, Zhang Jiaqi, Mi Xingang, Zhang Rui, Li Huiru, Wu Jin, Wang Yiming, Zhu Bochen, Fan Junmei, Huang Shan, Zhang Junmian, Wang Wei, Wang Qian, Li Jingrong, Geoffrey Murray, Degen Hill
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