Protesters occupy Queen's Road East in Wan Chai and paralyze traffic during an illegal assembly in Hong Kong, July 1, 2020. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government sternly condemned rioters' violent and illegal acts on Wednesday and voiced full support to the police in strictly enforcing the law.

Hong Kong police said they had arrested around 370 people as of 10:00 pm Wednesday local time, including six males and four females on suspicion of violating the newly enacted law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.

Crowds were gathering in the vicinity of Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Tin Hau on Hong Kong Island since Wednesday noon. Some rioters blocked roads, set fires and vandalized public facilities and shops across the areas

The other arrestees were arrested for unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct in public place, furious driving and possession of offensive weapons.

Crowds were gathering in the vicinity of Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Tin Hau on Hong Kong Island since Wednesday noon. Some rioters blocked roads, set fires and vandalized public facilities and shops across the areas.

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Some of them even assaulted police officers on duty, including attacking them with sharp objects, ramming a vehicle into them, and assaulting them during an arrest action, leading to the injury of seven police officers in total.

A spokesperson of the HKSAR government said in a statement on Wednesday night that the HKSAR government sternly condemned those who participated in the unlawful assemblies, committed violent and illegal acts and even caused severe bodily wounding to police officers.

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The HKSAR government will not tolerate any illegal act undermining social peace and stability, and will fully support the police in strictly and resolutely enforcing the national security law in the HKSAR and other laws of the HKSAR to restore social order and peace and protect Hong Kong residents' life, property and legitimate rights and freedoms, the spokesperson said.