China’s Hong Kong affairs office on Wednesday warned that Hong Kong would never be calm until the protesters were removed. The pro-democracy protests are resuming after weeks of coronavirus restrictions.
In a statement, the office described the protesters as “political virus”, and violent people who wanted independence for Hong Kong.
It added that Beijing would not sit by “with this demented force in place” and stressed China’s greatest responsibility was in maintaining order and safeguarding national security.
The pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, often followed by brutal crackdowns by security forces, began last year when people took to the streets to reject a bill that would have facilitated extradition to China.
The protests evolved into a wider movement calling for greater freedoms in what is the most concerted challenge to Beijing’s rule since the former British colony’s 1997 handover. However, Beijing has denied that it is tightening its grip over the city and has blamed the West for provoking unrest.
The protesters demand fully free elections in the city, an inquiry into alleged police misconduct during the protests and an amnesty for more than 7,000 people arrested during the movement – many of them under the age of 20.
Hong Kong publishing tycoon Jimmy Lai is among the territory’s most prominent democracy campaigners that have been arrested last month. Current and former lawmakers have been arrested as well.
In December, China’s president Xi Jinping expressed his “firm support” for the Hong Kong government, and praised chief executive Carrie Lam’s courage during the city’s “hard times”. He also expressed his support for the Hong Kong police in handling the protests.
