Hong Kong radicals' attacks 'show signs of terrorism'

Liaison Office condemns Sunday's violence

By Kathy Zhang

HONG KONG – The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Monday "strongly condemned" the violent acts by a small group of lawbreakers, after a police officer was injured by homemade petrol bombs thrown by radical protesters on Sunday night.

The condemnation came after many civic leaders also expressed concerns over the appalling acts by the radicals during multiple illegal protests at different locations of the city during the weekend.

During the violent clashes on Sunday, some rioters attacked the police stations with highly fatal and destructive weapons, including launched petrol bombs.

An on-duty police officer sustained burns on both legs after being hit by a petrol bomb in Tsim Sha Tsui.

"There is no place in the world that would tolerate such atrocious violent acts. Hong Kong will slide into an abyss, if such acts of terror were allowed," the office said in a statement.

The most urgent, common aspiration of the public is to end violence and restore peace and order, the liaison office stressed.

Thus, it called on the Hong Kong society to firmly support the SAR government and the police force to bring all violent lawbreakers to justice.

Hong Kong police have exercised restraint and professionalism when handling the violent and illegal protests that began in mid-June, the office said.

To date, a total of 12 police officers have been injured by laser beams pointed at them deliberately by radicals using laser pens, according to the department. So far, about 700 people have been arrested in relation to illegal protests since mid-June.

The office expressed sympathy to injured officers and extended gratitude to the police force and their families.