Sunday, August 04, 2019

The Situation in Hong Kong--Official and Unofficial Statements of the Political Authorities



The political situation in Hong Kong has remained fluid since the protests erupted in early June over the SAR government's handling of a proposed Fugitive Offenders Ordinance.  That the Extradition Law was so clumsily put forward was a pity, and an indication that even from the perspective of Chinese Marxist-Leninism, that the SAR government has failed fundamentally to practice the Mass Line, even within the quite sui generis context of SAR governance. 

Recent actions on all sides continues to inflame  a situation that remains dynamic. Ultimately social peace and good government must be restored, sensitive to the special conditions of Hong Kong as well as of the fundamental relationship between the Hong Kong SAR and the Central government. Decision making will have to take into account not just the situation within the Hing Kong SAR, but, because the People's Republic of China is now an international global role model, the effects of the actions of governmental authorities on the standing and reputation of China in the world. That may require the avoidance of provocative statements (e.g., here, here, and here).

The central authorities issues a statement at the end of July (The Chinese Position on the Situation in Hong Kong: Chinese and English Language Versions of Statement on the State Council Information Office Published: 2019-07-29 [国务院港澳办新闻发言人介绍对香港当前局势的立场和看法 ]). But the situation continues to develop (see here, here, and here).  And additional parties have sought some level of intervention, both within and outside of the SAR, while some elements of the security forces are allowing themselves to fall into the trap of labeling all foreigners as "agents" recalling a time in Chinese history repudiated by the CCP leadership core (here, here, here).
 
 "A general strike aimed at bringing the city to a halt is planned for Monday. Many flight departures were shown as being cancelled on Monday and a source and media reports said this was due to aviation workers planning to strike.Late on Sunday, hundreds of masked protesters blocked major roads, spray painted traffic lights, started fires and prevented transport from entering the Cross-Harbour Tunnel linking Hong Kong island and the Kowloon peninsula." (Hong Kong government: protests are pushing city to 'extremely dangerous edge')

As the authorities contemplate their future responses, they have been kind enough to issue a new series of statements that ought to be taken seriously.  These statements are reproduced below in English  (with thanks to Flora Sapio for translations) and 以及原始的中文版本.

Cross-posting from Sanshui, Samizu, Samseol (these include additional short reflections).




香港特区政府、警方:强烈谴责破坏国旗及暴力行为
人民日报 Today

  部分人士3日在香港油尖旺区举行游行,期间,一些极端分子做出破坏国旗、冲击警署等行为。香港特区政府发言人4日凌晨对此表示强烈谴责。香港警方也对暴力行为予以最严厉谴责。警方公布,在驱散示威者的行动中拘捕超过20人。


  特区政府发言人表示,示威活动期间,部分激进示威者有暴力冲击警署、破坏汽车、多处纵火等行为。同时,怀疑有示威者刻意破坏国旗,触犯香港特别行政区《国旗及国徽条例》。政府对于激进示威者目无法纪、蓄意破坏社会安宁,甚至挑战国家主权,予以强烈谴责。警方会严正执法,而使用暴力的违法示威者亦应受到法律制裁。


  香港警方表示,对激进示威者的暴力行为予以最严厉谴责,并强调会对所有非法及暴力行为严正执法。警方有能力及决心维护社会安宁,绝不姑息任何暴力行为。


  香港警方介绍,3日晚至4日凌晨期间,示威者以围栏等杂物堵塞红磡海底隧道收费广场两边行车线,导致两边隧道封闭、交通严重受阻;部分激进示威者围堵尖沙咀警署,大肆毁坏警署外设施并在多处纵火;部分激进示威者包围黄大仙纪律部队宿舍,向宿舍投掷爆竹及大量杂物,严重威胁居民的人身安全。


  香港警方介绍,在驱散示威者的行动中,拘捕涉嫌非法集结及袭击等行为的示威者超过20人。


来源:新华社
本期编辑:崔鹏、蒋川

 
Hong Kong SAR Government Police: strongly condemn the destruction of the national flag and violent conduct

People's Daily Today  [August 4, 2019]



On [August] 3 while some persons held a march in Yau Tsim Mong District, Hong Kong some extremists kept conducts such as destroying the national flag and attacking the police station. In the early morning of [August] 4, strong condemnation was expressed by a spokesperson of the Hong Kong SAR government. Violence was also sternly condemned by the Hong Kong Police. The Police announced that more than 20 people were arrested during the operations held to disperse the demonstrators.
A spokesperson of the SAR government stated that during the demonstrations, some of extremist demonstrators had violently attacked the police station, destroying vehicles, and committing arson in several places. At the same time, it is suspected that demonstrators deliberately destroyed the national flag, violating the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The government strongly condemned extremist demonstrators’ disregard for law and discipline [目无法纪], deliberate undermining of social peace to the point of challenging national sovereignty. The police will strictly enforce the law, and unlawful demonstrators who commit violence will also be subject to legal sanctions.

The Hong Kong Police said that they severely condemn the violence of extremist demonstrators and stressed that law will be strictly enforced [to punish] all illegal and violent acts. The police have the ability and determination to maintain social peace and do not tolerate any violence.

The Hong Kong Police said that from the evening of the [August] 3 to the early morning of [August] 4, demonstrators blocked the traffic lanes on both sides of the toll plaza of the Hung Hom Cross Harbour Tunnel using fences and various objects. As a result, the two sides of the tunnel were closed and the traffic was seriously obstructed. Some extremist demonstrators blockaded the Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station. The facilities outside the police station were destroyed and arson was committed in several places. Some extremists demonstrators surrounded the Wong Tai Sin Disciplined Services Quarters throwing firecrackers and a large amount of objects into the dormitory, which seriously threatened the residents' personal safety.

The Hong Kong Police said that during the operation [held] to disperse the demonstrators, more than 20 demonstrators were arrested such conduct as for illegal assembly and attacks.
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香港中联办发声:对这种无法无天的恶行,必须依法严惩
人民日报 Today

  中央政府驻香港特别行政区联络办公室负责人4日发表声明,严厉谴责香港极端激进分子侮辱国旗、挑战国家主权的违法行径。

  该负责人表示,8月3日下午,香港有丧心病狂的极端激进分子在尖沙咀扯下某建筑前悬挂的中华人民共和国国旗并扔入海中,这是继7月21日激进示威者围攻中联办、污损国徽后对国家尊严的又一次公开挑衅。该负责人强调,国家主权和尊严不容挑战,“一国两制”原则底线不容触碰,包括广大香港同胞在内的全体中国人的爱国情感不容肆意伤害。对这种无法无天的恶行必须依法严惩。

  该负责人重申,坚定支持特区政府和香港警方严正执法,依法惩治暴力犯罪分子,维护香港法治和社会稳定。

来源:新华社
本期编辑:崔鹏、蒋川



Hong Kong Liaison Office’s statement:
This kind of lawlessness must be severely punished according to the law

People's Daily Today  [August 4, 2019]

On [August] 4, the head of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued a statement sternly condemning the illegal acts of Hong Kong extremists insulting the national flag and challenging national sovereignty.

The person in charge said that on the afternoon of August 3, a deranged extremist [
有丧心病狂的极端激进分子] in Hong Kong pulled down the flag of the People's Republic of China hanging in front of a building in Tsim Sha Tsui and threw it into the sea. This followed the July 21 siege of the Liaison Office by  extremist protesters, [who] after defacing the national emblem, once again publicly challenged the dignity of the country. The person in charge stressed national sovereignty and dignity cannot be challenged. The bottom line of the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" cannot be touched. The patriotic sentiments of all Chinese, including the vast majority of Hong Kong compatriots cannot be hurt. This kind of lawlessness must be severely punished according the to law.

The responsible person reiterated that he firmly supports the SAR Government and the Hong Kong Police in law enforcement, punishment of violent criminals in accordance with the law, and upholding of the rule of law and social stability in Hong Kong.
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国务院港澳办严厉谴责侮辱国旗行径:依法严厉惩处,绝不手软
人民日报 Today

  国务院港澳事务办公室发言人4日就香港8月3日晚数名极端激进示威者扯下某建筑物前悬挂的中华人民共和国国旗并扔入海中一事发表谈话,对有关恶劣行径予以严厉谴责。

  该发言人表示,8月3日晚,数名蒙面黑衣示威者在香港尖沙咀扯下某建筑物前悬挂的中华人民共和国国旗,扔入海中。这一行径严重触犯了《中华人民共和国国旗法》和香港特别行政区《国旗与国徽条例》,公然冒犯国家、民族尊严,肆意践踏“一国两制”原则底线,极大地伤害了包括香港同胞在内的全中国人民的感情。我们对此表示强烈愤慨。我们坚决支持香港特别行政区警队和司法机构果断执法、严正司法,尽快将违法犯罪分子绳之以法。

  该发言人表示,极少数极端激进分子侮辱国旗的丑陋行径再一次表明,他们的所作所为已经远远超出了自由表达意见的范畴,滑进犯罪的深渊。对此必须依法严厉惩处,绝不手软。

来源:央视新闻
本期编辑:崔鹏、蒋川
 

 
The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council severely condemns the insult to the flag: strict punishment according to law, without leniency

People's Daily Today  [August 4, 2019]
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/MIM2mN6Zo-qG3EE81xGCwQ

A spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council issued a statement on [August] 4, on several extremist demonstrators who on August 3 pulled off the national flag of the People’s Republic of China hanging in front of a building and threw it into the sea, expressing a severe condemnation of such a vile conduct.
The spokesman said that in the evening of August 3, a number of masked protesters clad in black pulled off a flag of the People's Republic of China hanging in front of a building in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong and threw it into the sea. This act seriously violated the "Law of the People’s Republic of China on the National Flag" and the "Ordinance to provide for the use and protection of the national flag and national emblem in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and for incidental matters". It flagrantly offended the dignity of the nation, the dignity of the ethnicity [民族尊严] and arbitrarily trampled on the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, greatly hurting the feelings of the entire Chinese People including Hong Kong compatriots. We strongly support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Police Force and the judiciary’s decisive enforcement strict justice, and their bringing criminals to justice as soon as possible.

The spokesperson said that the vile acts of a very small number of extremists who insulted the national flag have once again shown that their actions have gone far beyond the scope of free expression and slipped into the abyss of crime.
This must be severely punished in accordance with the law, without leniency.

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