Pro-establishment lawmakers call for inquiry into violence

The legislators urged police to launch a major investigation into both incidents on Sunday.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers stressed that the radical acts were in defiance of the nation’s sovereignty and an insult to all Chinese people. In besieging the liaison office and defacing the national emblem, the protesters had committed a grave violation of the constitution, the statement added.  

The protesters had also defied the Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” principle, undermining social order to the detriment of the people of Hong Kong, the statement added. 

On Sunday, a group of radical protesters left a peaceful rally against the now-suspended extradition law amendment and marched to the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, one of the three central government institutions in the city.

 In besieging the building by setting up makeshift barriers, the protesters spray-painted derogatory graffiti, threw eggs at the walls and smeared black paint on the national emblem.   

The lawmakers urged an end to violence and criticized those who condone aggressive protests and provoke confrontations with the police. 

The legislators said they are urging others to join their cause against violence.  

Wong Kwok-kin, former chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said the defacing of the national emblem was “a serious political matter” as the perpetrators were advocating “Hong Kong independence”. 

Wong called on the city to engage in rational and peaceful discussions to resolve differences and set a new direction for the future of Hong Kong. 

According to the city’s laws, any person who desecrates the national flag or national emblem by publicly and willfully burning, mutilating, scrawling on, defiling or trampling on it commits an offense that is liable to a significant fine and imprisonment for up to three years. 

Lo Wai-kwok, chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, the city’s political party representing the business sector, said any violence that causes injuries to police, demonstrators, or any other residents should be rejected and condemned. 

Chairwoman of the New People’s Party Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee expressed concern that the violence would continue to spread and become a new normal. She urged people from all social and economic sectors, regardless of their political views, to condemn and renounce violence. 

Joining the condemnation was social dignitaries in the city. Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Tung Chee-hwa said he was saddened by the desecration of the national emblem, which is the symbol of a nation.

A small fraction of the community has taken advantage of an inclusive society and deliberately sabotaged Hong Kong’s economy and social order, undermining the relations between the central government and the SAR, Tung said.

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce also stressed in a statement its strong condemnation against the violence and called for a swift resolution to the current impasse that has polarized Hong Kong community.