BEIJING/HONG KONG - China firmly opposes some countries interference in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's affairs and China's internal affairs, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.

We express our strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to relevant countries' interference in Hong Kong affairs

Geng Shuang, spokesperson, China's Foreign Ministry

Spokesperson Geng Shuang said the violent act of storming the Legislative Council Complex in the Hong Kong SAR on Monday constituted serious violations of the rule of law and endangered social order.

He said China strongly condemned the violent act and firmly supported the HKSAR government and police to deal with the incident in accordance with the law.

Geng said that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs.

"We express our strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to relevant countries' interference in Hong Kong affairs," said Geng, and asked countries concerned to speak and act cautiously, not to send any misleading signals and not to make any wrong moves.  

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council also spoke Tuesday of the violent acts of storming the LegCo. 

Protesters' violent acts are a blatant defiance of the “one country, two systems”, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said

The spokesperson expressed firm support for the HKSAR government and its police in handling the incident and investigating the criminal responsibility of violent offenders in accordance with the law. 

Radical protesters violently attacked the LegCo on a day when Hong Kong was celebrating its return to the motherland, the spokesperson said. They have trampled the city’s rule of law, disrupted Hong Kong’s social orders and damaged Hong Kong’s fundamental interest, the spokesperson said.

It is a blatant defiance of the “one country, two systems”, the spokesperson said.
Later Tuesday, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR voiced shock, indignation and strong condemnation over the violent acts of storming the LegCo Complex.

The liaison office said it supports the HKSAR government in thoroughly investigating relevant serious illegal activities.

Some ultra-radicals stormed the LegCo Complex in an extremely violent manner and conducted lawless acts that caused mass destruction, which was shocking, distressing and infuriating, an official in charge of the liaison office said.

The official said the atrocities extremely provoked and trampled on the rule of law in Hong Kong and seriously undermined the social stability, which could never be tolerated.

The liaison office supports the HKSAR government in investigating relevant violent acts in accordance with the law, firmly upholding the rule of law and social order in Hong Kong, and working with people from all walks of life to safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, according to the official.

Also on Tuesday, President of Legislative Council Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen strongly condemned the violent acts of masked protesters.

READ MORE: Acts of violence at LegCo draw condemnation

This photo dated Aug 8, 2017 shows the Central Government Offices in Tamar, Hong Kong. (GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES)

Leung, after inspecting the complex on Tuesday, said the LegCo will cancel the remaining two meetings scheduled before its summer recess in mid-July as restoration is needed to repair the extensive damage.

“I believe many people from Hong Kong are also saddened by what happened in the LegCo,” Leung said.

Leung hoped the society could find a way rational forward for the interests of Hong Kong.

ALSO READ: Violence undermines HK's success, rule of law

Apart from the severe damage caused inside and outside of the complex, it was reported that some computer hard drives were missing after protesters stormed into the building. Police continued to collect evidence in the complex on Tuesday.

The Law Society of Hong Kong also condemned the violent siege of the LegCo, saying the open defiance of the law by some protesters is to be deplored.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong expressed a similar sentiment. It said while it respects the right of people to peacefully express their concerns, it joined the Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in condemning the violence displayed by protesters on Monday night.

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce strongly condemned the violence and hoped calm can be restored by resolving differences through rational dialogue and constructive engagement.

Meanwhile, the Social Affairs Committee of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union protested against the US Consul General Kurt W. Tong’s offending and inaccurate remarks on Hong Kong. The union said Tong has not only interfered in Hong Kong's internal affairs, but also harmed the relationship between Chinese and US people.

The Hong Kong Police Force said it will support and cooperate with the work of a Special Task Force set up by the Independent Police Complaints Council under its statutory power to undertake a detailed study on recent public order events occurred between June 9 and July 2. The Force will encourage frontline force members and Police Force Council Staff Associations to provide relevant experience and information for the IPCC’s study. 

(With Xinhua input)