Beijing studying causes of Mong Kok riot, reveals Hong Kong Legislative Council president
Tsang Yok-sing says it is wise for the central government to determine whether there are social conflicts to be resolved
Beijing officials are conducting their own study into the causes of the Mong Kok riot earlier this month, according to the head of the city’s legislature.
The revelation was made as political and religious heavyweights associated the Mong Kok mayhem with governance issues and appealed for harmony in society.
READ MORE: Shots fired and bricks thrown: Hong Kong tense after Mong Kok mob violence on first day of Lunar New Year
“I learned from a friend that the central government is seeking to know what happened [that led to the riot],” Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing said.
He called it “calm and wise” for Beijing to focus not only on opposing violence but also seeking to find out whether “there are social conflicts to be resolved”.
Tsang’s comment came as pan-democrats continued to criticise Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying for failing to address the causes behind the violence.
Leung has turned down requests for a committee of inquiry to be set up. He has also asked reporters to seek comments from rioters, instead of him, on the reasons behind the violence.
