The statement by Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, acknowledged that governance in the semi-autonomous city must be improved, saying factors such as high housing costs and a growing wealth gap had contributed to the unrest. Efforts by Hong Kong’s Beijing-controlled government to introduce tough security laws in 2003 caused major protests before being shelved. “The need to safeguard national security and strengthen law enforcement have become prominent issues and urgent tasks facing the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and people from all walks of life.”Zhang’s statement will likely further enrage Hong Kong protesters who have upended the international finance hub with their movement. Hong Kong holds district council elections on November 24, with the pro-Beijing camp bracing for heavy defeats. That assault came three days after a Mandarin-speaking man shouting pro-Beijing slogans knifed at least three pro-democracy protesters and bit off the ear of a local district councilor.

Source: Manila Times November 10, 2019 17:46 UTC