HK government condemns violent protests

Hong Kong, Aug 12 (IANS) The Hong Kong government on Monday condemned violent anti-government protests the day before, including an incident where a police officer was injured when demonstrators hurled petrol bombs

In illegal assemblies in various districts on Sunday, violent protesters vandalized public property, blocked roads, besieged police stations, and aimed laser beams and hurled bricks to attack police officers, Xinhua news agency quoted a government spokesperson as saying.

"We are outraged by the violent protesters' behaviours which showed a total disregard of the law, posing a serious threat to the safety of police officers and other members of the public," the spokesperson said.

"We severely condemn the acts."

Due to the persistent and large-scale illegal and violent acts, some public facilities were closed early and emergency services and commercial activities were obstructed, the spokesperson said, stressing that the right of ordinary people to carry on their daily lives was deprived.

Police had to fire tear gas to disperse the protesters.

"We appeal to all members of the public to say no to violence to help the community to restore order as soon as possible," the spokesperson said. "The police will enforce the law strictly and resolutely to bring illegal protesters to justice."

Meanwhile, metro stations in the city resumed normal operations on Monday morning.

More anti-government protests have been planned for this week.

The main demands of the protesters include a full withdrawal of a draft legislation of the now-abandoned extradition bill that would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to mainland China and other jurisdictions with which the city does not have an extradition agreement, implementation of universal suffrage and a retraction of the riot label attached to recent anti-bill protests.