A SPOKESPERSON yesterday urged people in Hong Kong to stop the violence and chaos and bring back order.

It is the immediate task facing all Hong Kong residents, which is very clear given the severe state of affairs in the region today, said Yang Guang, spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference.

Yang called on people in Hong Kong to stand firm and guard their beautiful homeland, stressing that now is the crucial moment.

“Here we sincerely hope the compatriots in Hong Kong will think calmly about the questions: Who will suffer if the situation becomes irremediable, and who will benefit in the end?”

All departments and organs of Hong Kong should never be soft on violent violations of the law, Yang stressed.

Reiterating the Central Government’s unswerving support for Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the spokesperson said the opposition’s attempt to force her to resign is doomed to fail.

“We hope that the people of Hong Kong understand the nature of the current situation, and firmly support Chief Executive Carrie Lam in leading the HKSAR Government’s law-based governance, the Hong Kong police in enforcing laws rigorously, and departments of the HKSAR Government and the judiciary body in punishing violent criminals in accordance with the law,” Yang said.

He then made it clear to “the very small group of unscrupulous and violent criminals and the dirty forces behind them” that those who play with fire will perish by it, and that whoever participates in violent and criminal activities would be held accountable according to the law.

Also, a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR expressed stern opposition to the extremely erroneous remarks made by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Chinese side expresses strong condemnation, dissatisfaction and opposition regarding Pelosi’s blatant support for violent lawbreakers in HKSAR and her gross interference in Hong Kong issues and China’s internal affairs, the spokesperson said.

Noting that violence is poison to a rule-of-law based society and unrest is the bane of development and prosperity, the spokesperson said Hong Kong has been suffering severely from violence for some time.

On the same day, the Hong Kong police said that they had arrested 148 people during Monday’s operations.

The detainees consist of 95 males and 53 females, four of whom have been charged, said the police at a press briefing.

The suspects were arrested for various offenses including unlawful assembly, assaulting police and possession of offensive weapons.

(Xinhua)