Top Beijing representative in Hong Kong condemns attack on liaison office during extradition protest, says rioters will be punished

Radical protesters offended all Chinese people and challenged central government’s authority, said director of Beijing’s liaison office Wang Zhimin

He praised those who took part in pro-establishment rallies on June 30 and July 20

Reading Time:3 minutes

Protesters deface the wall of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong on Sunday. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 2:09pm, 22 Jul 2019Updated: 2:54pm, 23 Jul 2019

Beijing’s top official in Hong Kong has slammed Sunday’s unprecedented attack on his office by anti-government protesters who defaced the national emblem on the building front, saying their radical actions had offended all Chinese people.

In a rare personal statement in front of the cameras on Monday, liaison office director Wang Zhimin said he was confident the “rioters” who pelted the liaison office building in Western District with eggs and paintballs would be punished by local authorities.

While Wang said his office would continue to serve Hong Kong people, he did not touch on Sunday night’s savage attacks on protesters and passengers by a mob of men wearing white at Yuen Long MTR station.

“Last night, some people with extreme ideas besieged the liaison office, while a minority of them threw eggs and black paintballs to deface our stately national emblem,” he said.

Wang Zhimin, director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, says the rioters offended all Chinese people, including 7 million Hongkongers. Photo: Handout

“They destroyed our security facilities, and wrote words to insult the nation and national integrity … The liaison office and various sectors in Hong Kong issue strongest condemnation of such acts.”

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x