Government, MTR Condemn Protests

The government again severely condemned ‘violent, radical protesters’ after Hong Kong was rocked by a 15th straight weekend of street demonstrations, which saw street brawls, fires and petrol bombs on Hong Kong island, as well as tear gas, pepper spray and a water cannon truck being deployed.

A government statement said the unauthorised protests jeopardised public safety and undermined social order, noting that some protesters had thrown petrol bombs and bricks at government headquarters in Tamar; and set fires in Admiralty and Wan Chai.

It also noted that some people had burned a national flag outside a hotel in Wan Chai, an act which it said “challenges the national authority.”

The spokesman said violence won’t solve any problems but would instead harm the entire community.

“To find a way out of the current difficult situation, the Government has shown sincerity and proposed to set up a platform for dialogue to communicate with members of the public, resolving together the deep-seated problems in society,” he said.

Meanwhile, the MTR Corporation has also expressed deep regret over arson attacks on its Wan Chai and Causeway Bay stations, and the “malicious vandalism” which damaged its Admiralty and Tin Hau stations.

"The recurrence of violence and malicious vandalism at MTR stations not only severely impacted on passengers’ journeys but also endangered the safety of passengers and MTR staff," it said.

It said the cases have been reported to the police and it reserves the right to take legal action against the parties concerned.

The railway suspended services to Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay stations for most of the evening, and warned that it is not sure whether the stations could reopen for Monday morning.

It said the Wan Chai station was particularly badly damaged.