This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 6, 2019, China's government issued a stern warning to Hong Kong protesters, saying they had 'exceeded the scope of free assembly' and warning against underestimating China's resolve to maintain order in the city.
Yang Guang, a spokesman for the Chinese government's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, made the comments in a press conference, urging protesters to stand down and warning that China would not allow Hong Kong to descend into chaos.
Protesters in Hong Kong had carried out widespread civil disobedience the previous day, blocking trains and roads and urging workers to strike. Air travel was also disrupted, with over 200 flights canceled after 2,300 civil aviation workers stayed home.
Mr. Yang denounced the tactics of protesters who had surrounded police stations, throwing bricks and lighting fires, as 'extreme violence that is shocking to see.'
He said, 'The central government will never allow any violent attempt to push Hong Kong into a dangerous situation.'
Protesters had gathered at multiple sites across Hong Kong on Monday, and the police had fired tear gas and arrested over 80 people. Since early June, the police had fired over 1,000 rounds of tear gas, more than 10 times the amount used during a 2014 protest movement.
