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Government expresses extreme outrage at violent acts of masked rioters
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     A Government spokesman today (October 13) expresses extreme outrage at masked rioters' recurrent violent acts at various districts across the territory and strongly condemns those acts which posed an immense threat to the safety of members of the public and seriously breached the public peace.

     Obviously targeting police officers for attacks, rioters slashed an officer's neck with a sharp-edged object, assaulted an officer and attempted to snatch his equipment, hurled petrol bombs at a police vehicle and set it on fire as well as threw a number of petrol bombs at Mong Kok Police Station and attacked police officers with hard objects such as bricks, posing severe threats to the safety of the police. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government severely condemns the attacks of rioters which are outrageous. Police will follow up with thorough investigation. On groundless comments against police officers continuously released on the internet, the Government spokesman appeals to members of the public to discern fact from fallacy and not to be misled. The spokesman extends sympathies to the injured police officers.

     In response to movements across the territory orchestrated online recently, rioters wantonly vandalised government and MTR facilities, offices of Legislative Council members as well as selected banks and shops in various areas, with many of them being set fires. The rioters attacked other members of the public and media organisations as well as set up barricades on roads in various districts, paralysing traffic and seriously obstructing fire and ambulance services. They also threw objects onto the track at Sha Tin MTR station and vandalised the tracks of the Light Rail, potentially causing serious accidents and jeopardising the personal safety of passengers and MTR staff. The vandalism has prompted the suspension of service of the entire network of the Light Rail and the early closure of a number of MTR stations since the afternoon, causing immense inconvenience and anxieties among the public. In addition, some people burned a national flag in Wong Tai Sin, challenging the national sovereignty and allegedly violating the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance.

     "The HKSAR Government strongly condemns the rioters' violent acts and will curb the violence with the greatest determination. It appeals to members of the public who took part in peaceful demonstrations to dissociate themselves from the rioters, uphold the rule of law which is Hong Kong's core value and work together with the Government to restore public order," the spokesman said.
 
Ends/Sunday, October 13, 2019
Issued at HKT 23:58
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