The Government spokesman severely condemned the protestors who, in disregard of the notice of objection issued by the Police, continued to conduct unlawful assemblies, committed violent and illegal acts, and even seriously injured police officers in areas of Causeway Bay and Wan Chai on July 1. The Government spokesman emphasises that unlawful acts which breach public peace will not be tolerated, expressing the Government's full support to the Police for taking strict and resolute enforcement actions to bring the offenders to justice.
Since around noon on July 1, some crowds had committed illegal and violent acts in areas of Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Tin Hau. They neglected the possible risk of spreading the virus by group gatherings, gathered on Hong Kong Island and chanted slogans, dug out bricks and damaged the roadside fences, committed arson, blocked the roads, and recklessly damaged the shops etc, seriously endangering public order and public safety.
Some people possessed and waved flags and printed materials containing the words of "Hong Kong independence", and chanted slogans of "Hong Kong independence". These people are suspected of inciting or abetting others to commit secession and are suspected to have violated the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the National Security Law) which came into effect. The Government spokesman severely condemns such acts which publicly challenged the bottom line of the Central People's Government and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The Police have been acting with restraint and tolerance but some rioters deliberately injured police officers severely. A rioter rammed his motorcycle into a number of police officers who were executing their duties nearby, resulting in three officers suffering injuries. Separately, a police officer was surrounded and attacked by several rioters when subduing a suspect. The rioters tried to snatch the suspect, during which the rioters attacked the officer with a sharp object. However, an online news outlet completely distorted the facts when reporting the incident, claiming that the officer had pushed a protestor to the ground while nearby citizens jointly fended off the officer. The Government spokesman strongly condemns these blatantly riotous acts and the extremely irresponsible report.
The Government spokesman highly commended the Police for holding fast to their duties and taking enforcement actions in accordance with the law, expressing the Government's full support to the Police in strictly enforcing the law in accordance with the National Security Law and the laws of Hong Kong to restore social order and peace, and protect the life and property of Hong Kong citizens as well as their fundamental rights and freedoms enjoyed under the law.
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