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China has the ‘resolution and power’ to end Hong Kong unrest amid protests, says ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming

  • Diplomat says central government will not ‘sit on its hands and watch’ if the situation deteriorates when asked if PLA could be deployed in city
  • Liu blames protesters for unleashing ‘black terror’ and restates government’s backing for city’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam

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Anti-government radicals and riot police face off on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui on Monday. Photo: Winson Wong

China has the “resolution and power” to end the unrest in Hong Kong if necessary, the country’s ambassador to Britain said on Monday.

Liu Xiaoming was speaking as tensions in the city remained high, with riot police and radicals facing off at a university. He blamed the protesters for unleashing “black terror” as he repeated Beijing’s support for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s government.

When asked whether the People’s Liberation Army might be deployed in the city, Liu replied: “They are already there in the Hong Kong garrison. They are there to show sovereignty and are responsible for defence purposes.”

But, he added “if the situation becomes uncontrollable, the central government certainly would not sit on our hands and watch. We have enough resolution and power to end the unrest.”

On Saturday a group of soldiers left their barracks to help clear rubble from the streets – a move pro-democracy campaigners criticised for breaching laws preventing the PLA from intervening in local affairs.
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