HK struggles to clean mess left by mob

The city of Hong Kong on Monday struggled to clean up the mess and repair the damage inflicted by protesters running amok on Sunday.

More buildings and public property were vandalized on the city's 15th straight weekend of protests and violence.

In Admiralty, the city’s political center, protesters were televised smashing a glass fence of a landmark office building – the Admiralty Centre near the metro station — during an unauthorized public procession.

They have been targeting the city’s metro facilities as they vent their fury on subway operator MTR Corp for applying for a court order to prevent vandalism and interference at its stations.

Water-filled barriers and metal railings were chained together at the concourse of the ground floor, preventing pedestrians from falling down to the underground level.

A cleaner said he and his colleagues had to clean up the scene overnight.

“I don't think (the protesters) would care,” said a pedestrian who declined to be named.

He said he had watched live news throughout the violent incident. “There were so many protesters. They were so agitated they just started smashing things up indiscriminately,” he said.

Admiralty has been a frequent battlefield for protesters and police over the past three months. Previously, vandalism also happened at the Legislative Council complex and government headquarters.

Moreover, Wan Chai station was forced to close on Sunday due to the protest. MTR staff arrived at the station at 5 am — an hour earlier than usual — to clean up the scene.

The rioters’ acts have drawn wide condemnation from the society.

MTR strongly condemned the malicious acts. The recurrence of violence and vandalism at MTR stations not only severely affected passengers' journeys but also endangered the safety of passengers and MTR staff, the company’s statement read.

Noting cases have been reported to the police, the corporation said it will take suitable follow-up actions on the incidents and reserves the right to take legal action against all parties concerned.

Stressing that society should not tolerate any violent acts disrupting law and order, the New People's Party called on authorities to introduce anti-mask legislation as soon as possible to quell the unrest.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong — the city's largest political party in the legislature — stressed the protesters' malicious acts definitely could be tolerated.

In a statement issued Sunday night, it reiterated support for police to bring the rioters to justice. The party also urged all residents to immediately draw a line against violence and not to bear such violent acts.

The police also condemned the acts, which disregarded law and order. It said the force will continue to take resolute action and bring all lawbreakers to justice.

Also on Sunday, Hong Kong's prominent medical practitioners have called on the medical sector and the people of Hong Kong to save the city from the "critical illness" of chaos and violence and support the police force to restore law and order.

The joint statement from 600 medical professionals in the city was seen in some local newspapers on Monday. “Violence should never be glorified and encouraged,” they said.

They also refused to be misrepresented after other doctors and nurses in the name of the medical sector called for the government to concede to some of the demands of the radicals, including a blanket amnesty for those arrested in relation to the months-long turmoil.