Beijing Urges Criminal Probe Into Legco Violence

Beijing condemned on Tuesday the ransacking of Hong Kong's legislature and said it backed Hong Kong authorities to investigate the "criminal responsibility of violent offenders".

The protesters who broke into Legco had vandalised the complex, spray painted anti-Beijing slogans and draped a colonial-era flag inside the Legco chamber.

"These serious illegal actions trample on the rule of law in Hong Kong, undermine Hong Kong's social order and harm the fundamental interests of Hong Kong," the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said in a statement.

"It is a blatant challenge to the 'One Country, Two Systems' bottom line. We express our vehement condemnation against this," the spokesperson said.

The statement said Beijing strongly supports Hong Kong's government and the police.

The central government "also supports the relevant agencies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to investigate the criminal responsibility of violent offenders in accordance with the law, to restore normal social order as soon as possible, to protect the personal and property safety of the citizens, and to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability," it said.

Meanwhile the state-run tabloid Global Times described the protesters who stormed the Legco as extremists and rioters.

An article published on the newspaper on Tuesday said no society should accept such "showing off of violence", or else a Pandora's box of problems will be opened up.

It also added that all it's the "biggest crime" to hijack Hong Kong's rule of law using violence.

It said what the protesters did has tarnished Hong Kong's image as an international financial centre. (AFP, RTHK)