EU Call For 'inclusive Dialogue' In Hong Kong

The European Union on Saturday called for "inclusive dialogue" to calm tensions in Hong Kong, saying there have been unacceptable violent incidents in the SAR.

"It is crucial that restraint be exercised, violence rejected, and urgent steps taken to de-escalate the situation," EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

"Engagement in a process of broad-based and inclusive dialogue, involving all key stakeholders, is essential."

"For the last two months, large numbers of citizens have been exercising their fundamental right of assembly," the EU diplomatic chief said.

"However, there has recently been a rising number of unacceptable violent incidents, with risks of further violence and instability."

Overnight on Friday, a government spokesman in Germany, Steffen Seibert, said Germany has been following events in Hong Kong with concern.

Seibert told reporters in Berlin that Hong Kong's 1997 Basic Law "is a Chinese law, and as such we naturally expect that the People's Republic of China, too, won't call into question the peaceful exercise of these rights".

But he went on to add that "we know China as a responsible actor on the world stage with whom we work well together in many areas".

He reiterated German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent call for a peaceful solution based on dialogue. (AFP, AP)