中, 주권반환 후 22년 만에 첫 홍콩 내정 관련 기자회견,.. 홍콩 정부 지지
Over in Hong Kong as protests against a controversial extradition bill continues.
And for the first time, the Chinese government delivered an official announcement on the issue.
Won Jung-hwan has the highlights from that presser.
Monday saw the first major press conference from Beijing on Hong Kong issues since the former British colony was handed over to China in 1997.
The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office under the State Council was responding to the escalating civil unrest that has beset the city's government since June.
The spokesman for the office, Yang Guang, said that the unrest has created a serious negative economic impact for Hong Kong,... and that this has been disheartening to people who treasure the city,... refering to violent clashes and the police’s discovery of suspected bomb-making equipment.
Yang also delivered the central government's support for the Carrie Lam administration. He said Beijing strongly supports the current administration,... and efforts by the police to enforce the law.
He then briefly mentioned Hong Kong's history with the mainland,... saying that "one country, two systems" is the best way to govern the city, and that the central government will not change the direction of that system.
Finally, he explained in more detail what the central government expects from Hong Kong,... laying out three factors: to firmly oppose violence,... to firmly safeguard the rule of law,... and to end political conflict as soon as possible.
It was Beijing's first press briefing amid a wave of mass protests and violent clashes that has continued for around two months. And suggesting that Beijing is unlikely to change its position,... it appears the situation is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.
Meanwhile, a group of Hong Kong civil servants from various government departments issued a statement last week saying they would organise a rally to support the protesters last week,... estimating that about 5-hundred people would take part.
If so, that would be the first time for a group of civil servants to join the anti-government protests.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.
