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Beijing stands behind Hong Kong police in state media while local officials insist anti-extradition protests are under control
- Xinhua interviews three Hong Kong police officials who say only minimal force had been used against protesters
- Guangdong party tells local delegation that Hong Kong will not be left behind under “Greater Bay Area” economic plan
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Hong Kong police received a strong vote of confidence from Beijing on Friday, with state media running interviews with three local officials who insisted the force could handle the protests rocking the city and had so far used only minimal force.
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Beijing’s support came as the party chief of neighbouring Guangdong province reportedly told a local delegation that Hong Kong would not be left behind under “Greater Bay Area” economic plan.
Commentators said the reports showed the central government’s continuing support for Hong Kong as it works to restore social stability and address economic uncertainties.
On Friday, state news agency Xinhua ran interviews with Ronny Chan Man-tak, chairman of the 400-member Superintendents’ Association; Wilkie Ng Wai-kei, chairman of the 2,000-strong Police Inspectors’ Association; and Lam Chi-wai, president of the Junior Police Officers’ Association, which represents 25,000 of the city’s 30,000 officers.
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Since June, city police officers have taken flak over for their handling of massive, often violent, anti-government protests, sparked by legislation that would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China.
Lam told Xinhua that local officers had used less force than their counterparts abroad would have done in similar situations.
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