- Title: Hong Kong government condemns violent protests during weekend
- Date: 2nd September 2019
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 2, 2019) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION, MATTHEW CHEUNG, SAYING: "These radical protesters are increasing their violence, challenging the law, and are also seriously damaging the peace and order of Hong Kong society and disregarding public safety. All sectors of society should draw a line with violence and sternly condemn the brutal acts of violent demonstrators. The government will fully pursue the end." HONG KONG OFFICIALS SEATED ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING, FRANK CHAN, SAYING: "The protesters' two-day radical actions on the weekend, or the so-called uncooperative movement this morning, actually caused serious threats to commuters, MTR staff and railway facilities, and caused the MTR to suspend, affecting the general public's daily travel and life." MORE OF JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, KEVIN YEUNG, SAYING: "Schools should not be used as places for raising political demands. Or trying to exercise pressure on the government on political issues. We would like to keep schools as a calm, peaceful and orderly place for students to study." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, JOHN LEE, SAYING: "In respect of the incident in Prince Edward Station, we must take the whole circumstances into consideration rather than a very small snapshot of a particular moment. Police will take action to what they have in hand of the evidence and intelligence. They will take action against the people whom they believe have committed crimes or offences which may result in serious injuries to other people." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 16th September 2019 06:21
- Keywords: Hong Kong protest Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung strike
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AUYR87B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Hong Kong's Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung on Monday (September 2) denounced protests over the weekend after thousands of people blocked roads and public transport links to Hong Kong airport.
After leaving the airport on Sunday (September 1), some demonstrators targeted the MTR subway station in nearby Tung Chung district, ripping out turnstiles and smashing CCTV cameras and lamps with metal poles. Police moved in and made several arrests.
Police and protesters had also clashed on Saturday (August 31) night in some of the most intense violence since unrest escalated in mid-June over concerns Beijing is eroding the freedoms granted to the territory under a "one country, two systems" agreement.
Hong Kong's education chief, Kevin Yeung, urged not to use schools to raise political demands and keep schools "calm and peaceful" at the news conference.
(Production: Joyce Zhou, Hyunyoung Yi) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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