Holmes CHAN (HKFP)
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/07/29/breaking-beijings-top-office-hong-kong-backs-citys-govt-police-condemning-recent-protests-rare-press-con/

China’s top office for handling Hong Kong affairs held a press conference in Beijing on Monday 29 to express “its stance and views on Hong Kong’s current situation.”
It was the first time that the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office held a press briefing on the city since it was established in 1997.

The office’s spokesperson Yang Guang condemned the actions of anti-extradition law protesters over recent weeks, saying that they “exceeded the boundaries of acceptable protest.”
After a recap of recent protest events, Yang made three suggestions:
– he called on all sectors of Hong Kong society to “clearly oppose violence”, - “strongly uphold the rule of law”,
– to move out of political gridlock to focus on development and livelihood issues instead.
“We especially understand and sympathise with the tremendous pressure felt by the police and their families,” Yang added, saying China fully support police and law enforcement.

He claimed that “some people and media with ulterior motives” took advantage of the public’s lack of familiarity with China’s legal system, and led them to oppose the extradition bill proposed by the government.
“If Hong Kong continues to be in chaos, it will have a cost upon society,” he said.
When asked about the idea of civil disobedience, Yang dismissed the idea: “Violence is violence, breaking the law is breaking the law.”

Answering questions from the press, spokesperson Xu Luying said the central government “fully affirms” the work done by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and will continue to support her and her administration to govern Hong Kong according to law.
“We saw that the administration has reflected on itself” regarding the extradition bill affair, she added.

As the press conference ended, reporters shouted questions at the department spokepeople, including: “Why don’t you condemn the police for beating people” and “Why isn’t Carrie Lam stepping down yet,” but received no reply.

Lawmaker Starry Lee, who heads the pro-Beijing DAB party, welcomed the statement from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. She said the three major points brought up by the spokesperson – oppose violence, uphold rule of law, develop economy and improve livelihoods – represents the public’s expectations as well.
It affirmed that the central government was highly concerned and closely monitoring the situation in Hong Kong, Lee said.
Asked if she believed China’s backing will make the Hong Kong government unwilling to conduct an independent investigation, Lee said there were difficulties in establishing such an investigative commission.

Democratic Party leader Wu Chi-wai said that the central government has misjudged the situation, and “cut off possible paths for moving forward.” Beijing’s support for Lam means that there will be an increasing reliance on the police as a solution, he added.
“[Beijing] believes that the anti-extradition protests can be violently suppressed by the police, and never considered solving a political problem by political means,” he said. “Once the police increase the force of their suppression, it will spark greater resistance from Hong Kong people, creating a vicious cycle.”

Pro-democracy camp convenor Claudia Mo called the response from Beijing “disappointing,” adding that it was out of touch with local sentiments. Lawmaker Ray Chan added that Beijing should also have condemned the attacks in Yuen Long, but thugs dressed in white.

The extradition bill would allow the city to handle case-by-case fugitive transfers to jurisdictions with no prior arrangments, including China. Critics have said residents are at risk of extradition to the mainland, which lacks human rights protections.
Large-scale protests since June have since morphed into wider displays of dissent over dwindling freedoms, democracy, alleged police brutality and other community grievances.
On July 9, Chief Executive Carrie Lam declared the bill “dead,” but did not enact any mechanism to withdraw it or agree to step down.

As it happened: how Beijing expressed ‘resolute support’ for Hong Kong’s government

Kinling Lo, Jun Mai, Tony Cheung and Kimmy Chung (SCMP Reporters)
https://www.scmp.com/print/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3020466/hong-kong-and-macau-affairs-office-speak-extradition-bill

HKMAO press conference suggests leaders in Beijing have arrived on a view and formulated a response to the crisis gripping Hong Kong
Over the past weeks, escalating protests have thrown Hong Kong into the international limelight and worried investors

The controversy over the shelved extradition bill has plunged Hong Kong into its biggest political crisis since its 1997 return to Chinese rule. The city continues to be rocked by mass protests with demonstrators demanding a full withdrawal of the bill.

As protests have escalated and taken an increasingly violent turn in recent weeks, Hong Kong’s police have struggled to restore order while facing a massive public backlash over their handling of demonstrators.
The turmoil has not only worried Beijing’s leaders but also put Hong Kong under the international spotlight as investors wonder if the financial hub has stumbled.

The press conference on Monday 29 by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office under the State Council, the first by Beijing’s top policy office on Hong Kong since the handover, suggested top leaders had arrived at a view and formulated a response to the deadlock.
Below is the main transcript of the question and answer session with the office’s spokespersons Yang Guang and Xu Luying:

Q: What’s your view on protesters who use violence?
Yang: “The rule of law is what Hongkongers are proud of. Violence is violence; unlawful acts are unlawful. It doesn’t change, no matter what the target is. The central government supports the relevant departments and police to protect the rule of law.”

Q: What would Beijing do to assure Hong Kong that “one country, two systems” is in place?
Yang: “This depends on how they understand the situation. It is a complete ideology.
There are three bottom lines: no harm to national security, no challenge to the central government’s authority and the Basic Law, and no using Hong Kong as a base to undermine China.”

Q: What does Beijing think of Carrie Lam’s performance?
Xu: “She has done lots of work since taking office. We have noted that the government has done a thorough review of its deficiencies ... The government will be more inclusive and listen to different opinions.”

Q: Would the Hong Kong garrison of the Chinese army be deployed on streets?
Yang: “The Basic Law has clear statements on that question, and I have nothing to add.”

Q: What are your views towards foreign countries’ roles in Hong Kong?
Yang: “Some irresponsible people from Western countries have made irresponsible remarks. I have paid attention to some people’s speeches. They have weird logic: they expect empathy for violent and illegal actions, but when it comes to police work in maintaining law and order and stability in society, protesters believe officers should be held accountable and be condemned. This is ridiculous.”

Q. Do you support an independent commission of inquiry into police actions, as some have claimed that the Yuen Long attacks were allowed by officers?
Yang: “Hong Kong police in the past month have been under a lot of pressure. They have done their best to protect society and maintain stability, and have made a great degree of sacrifice.”