Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemns protest violence, rail station attacks

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's leader on Monday (July 22) strongly condemned some anti-government protesters for an "attack" on China's main representative office in the city.

On Sunday police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse activists after they had fled China's Liaison Office, its main representative branch in the city, after defacing some walls and a national emblem.

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said the targeting of the office was a "challenge" to national sovereignty, condemning violent behaviour of any kind.

She also described as "shocking" an apparent attack by organised triad criminal gangs on ordinary citizens and protesters at a train station in Yuen Long on Sunday, saying authorities would investigate fully.

Flanked by over a dozen of her principal officials, Mrs Lam said she had instructed Police Commissioner Stephen Lo to find the culprits.

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"I've said this and I'll say it again, violence will not solve any problems and will only lead to more violence," she said at a press conference.

Police chief Lo said his officers were gathering evidence after the attacks in Yuen Long which saw groups of men storm Yuen Long MTR station, beating passengers and bystanders, including a lawmaker and some journalists.

No arrests have been announced so far but over 40 people were hurt.

The liaison office spokesman late on Sunday strongly condemned protesters who vandalised the building and defaced the national emblem, saying the actions were a direct challenge to national sovereignty.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua said in an editorial on Monday that the attack on the liaison office was a "blatant challenge to the central government" and will not be tolerated.