Beijing's authority in Hong Kong is not to be undermined, and violence against the Hong Kong police is not to be tolerated, said China's top Hong Kong policy office in a press briefing held on Monday, July 29.

This was the first time the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) has held a press briefing since the mass protests started eight weeks ago.

The press briefing was also the first given by the office regarding Hong Kong since the 1997 handover.

An English handout of the main talking points of his speech was given out to the reporters in attendance.

A first for Beijing since Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Pushed by unprecedented chaos in #HongKong with protestors demanding protection of freedoms, greater voting rights and for their embattled leader to resign, now this official statement. @CBSNews is watching. pic.twitter.com/alNHgLevef

— Ramy Inocencio 英若明 (@RamyInocencio) July 29, 2019

Condemned violence of protesters

Yang, the spokesperson for HKMAO, accused "some people and media with ulterior motives" of making use of the public's lack of familiarity with China's legal system, leading them to oppose the extradition bill.

Yang also condemned the violence committed by the protesters against the police, mentioning that a police officer's thumb was bitten off, and that protesters had thrown bricks at the police.

He also criticised the defacement of the emblem of China's liaison office, saying it undermined Beijing's authority.

Yang also dismissed the idea of civil disobedience, saying: "Violence is violence, breaking the law is breaking the law."

Such violent clashes between the protesters and the police are heart wrenching for those who love Hong Kong, he added.

Yang has repeatedly emphasised that the most pressing concern right now is to curb violence in the city, and to sanction criminals according to the law, so as to restore stability and continue to uphold the rule of law.

Three "hopes" for Hong Kong

Yang also said Beijing has three hopes for Hong Kong.

1. Firmly opposes violence

"Any act that undermines the bottom line of one country, two systems is not tolerated."

2. Firmly safeguards the rule of law

"Urges Hong Kong people to defend the rule of law. Once shaken, Hong Kong's prosperity will be adversely affected."

3. Hopes that such political conflicts can end soon in the Hong Kong society

"The central government continues to support Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the Hong Kong Police Force and other Hong Kong authorities to maintain law and order in Hong Kong."

He added that Beijing empathises tremendously with the police force, and respects what they are doing.

Yang then received some questions from the reporters, starting with one from Chinese state media CCTV.

CCTV: some ppl in hk are now trumpeting achieving justice thru violent means, what do you think?
A: rule of law has been a core value that HK ppl proud of. no matter how noble an ideal is considered, violence cannot be accepted as a means. beijing support police.

— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) July 29, 2019

Yang next received a question from Singapore-based Chinese media Lianhe Zaobao regarding the acceptance of the "one country, two systems" framework among the Hong Kong people.

He replied that "one country" is the root of the framework.

Lianhe Zaobao: many worry OCTS allows only OC but no TS, how can Beijing reassure them?
A: OC is the root and base. in HK and MO, OCTS has 3 bottom lines: threaten sovereignty and national security; challenge Beijing power and basic law; infiltration of hostile forces

— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) July 29, 2019

Xu Luying, the moderator for the press briefing, invited a reporter from the Hong Kong media to ask questions, saying, "Let's give the Hong Kong media a chance."

Avoided addressing Yuen Long attacks

Yang also pointedly avoided responding to questions regarding the assault carried out by a white-clad mob that took place on July 22 in a train station in Yuen Long.

Protesters wearing black tops, reporters wearing yellow vests to identify them as media, as well as ordinary commuters wearing different-coloured tops were all targeted.

Analysts claimed the mob was made up of triad members who were paid by the police as part of an “extra-legal governance” to deal with the protesters, or things they could not use legal enforcement for.

When a TVB reporter asked for Beijing's response to the assault, Yang said that the Hong Kong police has put much effort and sacrifices in maintaining the city's stability over the last month.

Both the police officers and their families have faced tremendous pressure particularly from the cyber bullying against them, he added.

He also said the police has remained professional and restrained despite such pressure.

However, Yang did not respond to the TVB reporter's question regarding the "indiscriminate beatings" in Yuen Long.

The reporter then shouted at him and asked him to give an answer.

In response, Xu asked him not to interrupt the press conference.

When Yang announced that the press briefing was over, some Hong Kong reporters shouted a barrage of questions at him in vain.

The two spokesperson from #HongKong MAO presser left without answering further questions fired by journalists who stormed to the podium as pressser ends.
Furious journalists: you said earlier that we can discuss after presser pic.twitter.com/l0JFHAQuD8

— Kinling Lo 盧建靈 (@kinlinglo) July 29, 2019

Netizens react poorly

Unsurprisingly, the press briefing was badly received by many netizens.

"Ownself asks, ownself answers."

Netizens also put a hilarious spin to the situation, coming up with a list of four-letter set phrases that they predicted the HKMAO would use during the press briefing, and playing Bingo with the words.

The phrase, "having ulterior motives", was crossed out.

Beijing has used the phrase to describe the media and "foreign agents" whose ulterior motive is to incite violence in Hong Kong and drive a wedge between Hong Kong and mainland China.

The press conference was also criticised for missing the point of the entire protest.

It sounds so weird when hearing Beijing said Hong Kong government should help with young people’s housing and job issues. These are not the main problem thank you, we have rich old people coming out to protest too

— Kris Cheng (@krislc) July 29, 2019

Protests reaching its third month

Beijing's announcement came after eight consecutive weekends of protests, which started with Hongkongers rallying on the streets against the highly unpopular extradition bill.

The bill, which protesters fear would be abused by Beijing to detain political dissidents, has since been declared dead by Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Previously, in Beijing’s most explicit warning so far, Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defence said on July 24 the military “could be called in if the Hong Kong police were unable to maintain order”.

“Some behaviour of the radical protesters is challenging the authority of the central government and the bottom line of one country, two systems,” he said.

“This is intolerable.”

Top image via i-Cable News