China warned Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters Tuesday that "those who play with fire will perish by it", a day after the most widespread unrest of the two-month crisis.

In its harshest warning yet Beijing said the immense strength of the central government should not be underestimated as police in the semi-autonomous city announced they had arrested 148 people in connection with Monday's violence.

The city has been plunged into chaos by weeks of protests triggered by opposition to a planned law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. The protests have since evolved into a wider movement for democratic reform and the protection of freedoms.

At a press briefing in Beijing, Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said the "radical protests... have severely impacted Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, pushing it into a dangerous abyss".

Yang said the government still "firmly supports" both the Hong Kong police force -- who have been criticised for their handling of the protests -- and Carrie Lam, the city's pro-Beijing leader who protesters want to resign.

"We would like to make it clear to the very small group of unscrupulous and violent criminals and the dirty forces behind them: Those who play with fire will perish by it," Yang said.

"Don't ever misjudge the situation and mistake our restraint for weakness... Don't ever underestimate the firm resolve and immense strength of the central government."

Hong Kong police said 148 people were arrested during running battles with protesters on Monday as the city buckled under a general strike followed by the most widespread and sustained clashes so far at more than a dozen locations.

Police stations were a particular target, with protesters hurling stones, eggs and bottles, and using giant improvised slingshots to catapult bricks over walls. An apartment complex that houses police officers and their families also came under attack.

- Concern in the capital -

Superintendent John Tse told reporters that police fired some 800 tear gas rounds -- almost as many as the 1,000 rounds they said they had fired throughout the last two months.

In Beijing, the press conference held by China's cabinet-level State Council was the second about the unrest in as many weeks, highlighting concern in the capital.

The clashes have piled pressure on Chinese President Xi Jinping, and led to speculation that Beijing might be forced to intervene in some capacity, even militarily.

Yang, however, seemed to downplay any idea of mainland police or military helping with law enforcement, saying the Hong Kong government was "fully capable of punishing the violent crime in accordance with the law, restore order to society, and restore stability to society".

The protests on Monday paralysed the subway system during morning peak hour, led many shops to close and delayed scores of international flights.

In a press conference in Hong Kong, Lam warned the city was nearing a "very dangerous situation" as she framed the protests as a challenge to China's sovereignty.

"I dare say they are trying to destroy Hong Kong," said Lam.

The protesters have shown no sign of easing their campaign, however.

Three masked youngsters from the largely leaderless movement took the unusual step on Tuesday of holding a press conference to demand democracy, liberty and equality, and condemn the city's pro-Beijing leaders.

Dressed in the movement's signature yellow construction helmets and hiding their identities with face masks, the two young men and one woman billed their gathering as a civilian press conference "by the people, for the people".

"We call on the government to return the power back to the people and to address the demands of Hong Kong citizens," they said as they read out their statements in both English and Cantonese.

148 arrested in Hong Kong during Monday's protests
Hong Kong (AFP) Aug 6, 2019 - Hong Kong police on Tuesday said 148 people were arrested during running battles with protesters the day before, the largest daily toll since huge pro-democracy protests kicked off two months ago.

On Monday Hong Kong buckled under a general strike followed by the most widespread and sustained clashes so far with tear gas fired at least a dozen locations against increasingly violent protesters.

"During the operation yesterday, the police arrested 148 people consisting of 95 males and 53 females, aged between 13 and 63-years-old," superintendent John Tse told reporters.

Over the last two weeks both police and protesters have resorted to increasingly confrontational tactics, plunging the city into a crisis.

At Tuesday's press conference police revealed that they fired some 800 tear gas rounds on Monday -- almost as many as the 1,000 rounds they said they had fired throughout the whole of the last two months.

Riot police also discharged 140 rubber bullets and 20 sponge rounds.

The press conference revealed details of how widespread Monday's battles were against the police, who have become a lightning rod for public anger and are derided by protesters as Beijing's enforces.

Police stations came under attack from protesters hurling stones, eggs, bottles and using slingshots that fired bricks.

An apartment complex that houses police officers and their families also came under attack.

Tse said a total of 21 police stations were "affected" by Monday's protests -- although it was unclear if all of them were besieged.

Media documented tear gas being fired in at least a dozen districts on Monday.

"Within two short months, the rioters have recklessly destroyed the rule of law. Their acts have seriously hampered public safety," Tse said.

Protesters have countered that police have long been using excessive violence against their movement -- accusations the force denies.

They also say they were forced to adopt more confrontational tactics after peaceful rallies failed to win any concessions.

Reporters covering the press conference staged a brief protest at its start, repeatedly tapping thir pens on tables and helmets and donning high-visibility vests used in the field as a fellow journalist read out a statement.

"We strongly condemn police for abusing their force and obstructing the reporting by journalists," a reporter said on behalf of the Hong Kong Journalists Association.

The group released a statement earlier on Tuesday saying "police have continued to obstruct reporting by aiming high beam lights at cameras... intentionally chase-beating them and aiming tear gas cannisters directly at them".

"The situation is growing increasingly out of control," it added.

The tough choices for China over Hong Kong unrest
Beijing (AFP) Aug 6, 2019 - China has only tough choices as it looks to end more than two months of pro-democracy protests in its semi-automous southern city of Hong Kong.

The protesters have shown no signs of backing down, despite increasingly violent confrontations in which Hong Kong's police have regularly fired tear gas and rubber bullets.

The protests were triggered by opposition to a planned law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, then evolved into a wider movement for democratic reform and a halt to eroding freedoms.

Here are the potential options for the central government as it seeks to end the crisis, and the problems associated with each:

1. More of the same

Beijing's current approach has been to express firm public support for the Hong Kong police and the city's chief executive, Carrie Lam, while warning the protesters their actions are "intolerable".

"Beijing has adopted an intimidation strategy and is trying to wait it out until at least early September, when (school) term starts -- many protesters are high school and university students," said Hong Kong-based political analyst Dixon Sing.

The party is also preparing for the 70th anniversary of the founding of modern China, and is unlikely to want to take antagonistic steps ahead of that.

The wait-and-see approach is similar to how it approached the 2014 pro-democracy "Umbrella Movement" in Hong Kong.

The 2014 events saw protesters occupy parts of the city for more than two months but faded away without winning concessions from Beijing after key leaders were arrested.

But this may not be enough.

By waiting, it risks further embarrassment for a government led by Chinese President Xi Jinping that tolerates no dissent.

"The protests in Hong Kong are a serious loss of face for Beijing, and presents a key political and strategic dilemma for the Chinese authorities -- do we intervene, when, and how," Michael Raska, assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told AFP.

2. Give in

Beijing could pressure Hong Kong's government into adopting a more conciliatory tone and finding some way to compromise with the protesters.

Their demands include an independent inquiry into police methods, and the permanent shelving of the extradition bill.

The government could also orchestrate Lam's resignation, another key demand of the protesters.

"Lam has become a colossal political liability both locally and internationally," said Sing.

However doing so would be seen to be giving in to the protesters and rewarding their actions.

"The likelihood of Beijing adopting non-violent, conciliatory measures is low," Hong Kong-based political analyst Willy Lam told AFP.

3. Up the ante

The central government could step up its pressure and intimidation tactics against the protesters.

There has already been increasingly strident condemnation from authorities and state media.

The Chinese military last week described the unrest as "intolerable" and released a slick propaganda video showing a drill of armed troops quelling a protest in Hong Kong.

"At this stage, (Chinese president Xi Jinping) is gravitating towards a more hardline stance," Lam said.

But if Beijing does not plan to carry out such threats, then there is a risk of needlessly causing further panic. This could trigger a flow of money and companies out of the global financial hub.

4. Send in the troops

The most dramatic -- and risky -- strategy for the central government would be to send in military reinforcements.

There is already a garrison of thousands of troops from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) stationed in Hong Kong, though they generally keep a low profile.

While Hong Kong's law states PLA troops "shall not interfere in the local affairs of the region", it also says they can be deployed to "maintain public order".

But this last resort could spell financial disaster for Hong Kong and wholesale global condemnation for the Chinese Communist Party.

"It would seriously undermine the political legitimacy of Xi Jinping and the CCP, both internally as well as externally, with widespread international condemnation reminiscent of the 1989 suppression of Tiananmen Square protests," said Raska.

Related Links
China News from SinoDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

China anti-graft body probes high-level Xinjiang official
Beijing (AFP) July 30, 2019
China's anti-corruption watchdog said Tuesday it is investigating a high-level official in the northwest Xinjiang region, the latest to be ensnared in President Xi Jinping's sweeping campaign against graft. Enwaer Tursun, an ethnic Uighur, had worked his way up in his native Xinjiang, eventually rising to the post of deputy secretary-general of the region's People's Congress in 2017. Xinjiang is home to the Uighur minority, and where an estimated one million mostly Muslim Turkic-speakers are hel ... read more