A ruling Chinese Communist Party newspaper has taken a hard line against pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, saying demonstrators who broke into the local legislature showed their “arrogance” and had no regard for the rule of law.
Chinese state media ran footage of police in Hong Kong clearing protesters from the streets, in a break with its silence over days of pro-democracy demonstrations that have challenged Beijing’s authority over the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
Its coverage of the protests and the publication of a harsh editorial in the official Communist Party newspaper Global Times may indicate it is prepared to take a tougher line against the demonstrators following days of forbearance.
“These violent assailants in their arrogance pay no heed to Hong Kong’s law, no doubt arousing the anger and sadness of all people of the city of Hong Kong,” the editorial said.
Television images showed police moving into roads surrounding the Legislative Council, where protesters smashed through glass and metal barriers to occupy the space for about three hours on Monday night until police moved in shortly after midnight.
But he said mass participation in marches and rallies over previous weeks showed there was a groundswell of support for the demonstrators’ goals of demanding more accountability from the administration of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
“I understand people in Hong Kong and around the world might not 100% agree or disagree on all of the behaviour of protesters … but all of the requests have been ignored. So, is there any way out?” Mr Wong said.
Ms Lam is “not capable as leader anymore” and should resign, Mr Wong said, echoing the demand of many protesters.
Having been elected by a Beijing-approved committee, Ms Lam is reliant on continuing support from Beijing, which has shown no outward signs of abandoning her so far.
Mr Wong also accused police officers of having “double standards” in enforcing the law, saying pro-Beijing legislators and their staff members have benefited from better treatment than their opposition counterparts throughout the weeks of protest outside the legislature.
The demonstrations reflect mounting frustration with Ms Lam and her government for not responding to demands from opposition figures that were originally sparked by a government attempt to change extradition laws to allow suspects to be sent to China for trial.
Ms Lam has shelved the bills but not agreed to scrap them altogether as opponents insist she does.
Hundreds of protesters swarmed into Hong Kong’s legislature on Monday night, defacing portraits of politicians and spray-painting pro-democracy slogans in the chamber before vacating it as riot police cleared surrounding streets with tear gas and then moved inside.
The occupation came on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.
Police initially retreated as the protesters entered, avoiding a confrontation and giving them the run of the building.
Demonstrators stood on politicians’ desks and painted over the territory’s emblem on a wall.
The crowd also wrote slogans calling for a democratic election of Hong Kong’s leader and denouncing the extradition legislation.
Many wore yellow and white helmets, face masks and the black T-shirts that have become their uniform.
Police wanted the march to end earlier in the city’s Wan Chai district, but organisers said that would leave out many people who planned to join the march along the way.
Police estimated that 190,000 people joined the peaceful march, the third major one in as many weeks.
Organisers put the number at 550,000.
Debate on the measure has been suspended indefinitely.
Protesters want the bills formally withdrawn and Ms Lam to resign.
Ms Lam, who has come under withering criticism for trying to push the legislation through, called a rare pre-dawn news conference with security officials at police headquarters.
“This is something we should seriously condemn,” she said.
Ms Lam disputed protesters’ complaints that officials had not responded to them, saying the government explained that by suspending the bill with no timetable or plan to revisit it, the legislation would die at the end of the current legislative session in July 2020.
For the other demands, she said releasing arrested protesters without an investigation would not uphold the rule of law.
The two marches in June drew more than a million people, according to organiser estimates.
Surveying damage to the building on Tuesday morning, Legislative Council president Andrew Leung said the previous night’s violence had undermined “the core values of Hong Kong”.
He said police were collecting evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
“I believe many Hong Kong people will share the same feeling with me that we are saddened by what happened last night. For the best interest of Hong Kong, I hope that all of us can find the way forward professionally,” Mr Leung said.
