No future for Hong Kong if protest violence returns, Beijing warns

Central government’s representative condemns opposition politicians who encourage young people to commit criminal acts in the name of fighting for democracy

Criticism comes after teen arrested over hurling petrol bombs on Labour Day and just hours before three suspected bombs found in abandoned school

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The central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 6:06pm, 2 May 2020Updated: 8:39am, 3 May 2020

Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has warned that the city will have no future if radical anti-government protesters return to chaos and violence at a time requiring unity to fight the coronavirus crisis.

Having just recently asserted its authority to comment on the city’s affairs, dismissing cries of “interference” by opposition politicians who questioned its powers, the office issued a statement on Saturday lambasting those who staged illegal protests on Labour Day and hurled petrol bombs at night.

Just hours before three suspected home-made bombs were found in an abandoned school, Beijing’s representative office accused opposition politicians of encouraging young people to commit crimes in the name of fighting for democracy.

“We strongly condemn extreme radicals for staging unlawful gatherings again during the Labour Day holiday, disturbing shops and throwing petrol bombs,” a spokesman said. “People around the world have set aside differences in fighting the pandemic. It was only in Hong Kong that the extreme radicals have continued to incite people to engage in violent activities and threatened to plant bombs in public places. If we appease them, can Hong Kong have a future?”

While major protest chaos expected on May 1 did not materialise, with riot police out in force, a 15-year-old was arrested for hurling petrol bombs in Mong Kok. Officers enforcing a ban on public gatherings also dispersed protesters with pepper spray at New Town Plaza shopping centre in Sha Tin.