Beijing Review – August 15, 2019

(Sean Pound) #1

26 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 15, 2019 http://www.bjreview.com


NATION


H

ong Kong’s transport network was
partially paralyzed on August 5, as
protesters created fresh chaos. Metro
commuters were seriously affected by these
actions, as many lines suspended operations.
The metro system in Hong Kong trans-
ports about 5.8 million passengers a day.
At the Fortress Hill metro station, pro-
testers repeatedly blocked train car doors,
causing the suspension of operations.
Footage aired by local broadcasters also
showed motorists angrily accusing protest-
ers of blocking traffic on the city’s main
avenues. Flights were canceled at Hong
Kong International Airport, one of the busiest


in the world.
A passenger surnamed Woo said he was
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of so-called democracy,” he said.
Many Hong Kong residents decided to
go to work anyway and were not bothered
by leaving home one or two hours earlier to
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Dangerous situation
Weeks of protests in Hong Kong escalated
into a spate of violent incidents, which have
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commit arson and vandalism, among other
serious law violations.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) Lam Cheng
Yuet-ngor warned at a press conference on
August 5 that extreme violence was pushing
Hong Kong to a “very dangerous situation.”
She urged people to peacefully express
their demands and not to destroy the pros-
perous and stable future of Hong Kong.
Violence would send Hong Kong on a road
of no return, she warned. Lam said radicals’
violent expression of their demands had
come at the expense of others’ freedom and
rights.

A Call for


Peace and Order


Violent protests in Hong Kong have seriously impacted the region’s stability and


people’s livelihood


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