Escalated Violence in Hong Kong, as Executive Carrie Lam Urges All Society To Back Security

Nov. 11, 2019 (EIRNS)—In Hong Kong, some of the worst violence in five months of protests took place in the last 24 hours. This morning, Chief Executive Carrie Lam held a special press briefing, describing protesters as the “enemy of the people,” and calling on “the whole of society” to condemn their widespread violence.

In one instance, a police officer shot an activist in self-defense, during a scuffle in which the officer, outnumbered and under assault, tried to aim his weapon free of people. The wounded protester is reported to be in critical condition in hospital. In a second instance, a middle-aged Hong Kong resident, expressing his view to the protesters, that “We are all Chinese,” was doused with a flammable liquid by them and set afire. First reports are that he is in critical condition in hospital.

Today’s Global Times reported that the escalated violence involved damage to rail lines, and attempts to force strikes by workers at critical points such as schools and hospitals, among other actions. Protesters hit shopping malls, to vandalize stores said to be operated by pro-Beijing residents. Police arrested nearly 90 people on various charges, including criminal damage, packing a dangerous weapon, as well as wearing masks. Today, police used water cannon on one of the college campuses, to disperse an unlawful protest.

Carrie Lam concluded her statement to the press today: “Finally, if there is still any wishful thinking that by escalating violence the Hong Kong SAR [Special Administrative Region] government will yield to pressure to satisfy the so-called political demands, I’m making this statement clear and loud here: That will not happen. Violence is not going to give us any solution to the problems that Hong Kong is facing. Our joint priority now as a city is to end the violence and to return Hong Kong to normal as soon as possible.”