HK protesters urged to act peacefully

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, April 04, 2004

HK protesters urged to act peacefully

Hong Kong's Chief Secretary Donald Tsang on Friday urged Hong Kong people to express their views peacefully after a scuffle between police and protesters outside the Central Government Offices.

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Hong Kong's Chief Secretary Donald Tsang on Friday urged Hong Kong people to express their views peacefully after a scuffle between police and protesters outside the Central Government Offices.

He reiterated that Beijing's interpretation of the Basic Law annexes would not undermine "One Country, Two Systems" and the "high degree of autonomy" in Hong Kong.

In the early morning, police removed some 60 protesters from the complex after they camped there overnight to protest against the interpretation of the Basic Law by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC). Most of the protesters were from the Federation of Student Unions.

Tsang said he fully understood the concerns of young people over the possible impact of the interpretation move. But there were sufficient channels available for exchange of ideas.

"We have been through a number of difficulties, such as the SARS outbreak and the Asian financial crisis, since the handover. Whenever we encountered a difficulty, the central government gave its helping hands to us timely and unselfishly," Tsang said.

"I believe that the central government, like always, will deal with the interpretation in the interests of Hong Kong...The move will not undermine the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle and 'high degree of autonomy' in Hong Kong," he said.

He called on young people to consider the issue in a calm and law-abiding way.

Protesters held a rally at the main entrance to the government complex after a 3,000-strong candle-light vigil at Chater Garden, Central, that ended at 9:30 pm on Thursday.

Scuffles broke out when the protesters sought to force their way through the police barricade and sit on the driveway.

They said they wanted to hand a petition to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa when he arrived at the office the next morning.

Protesters refused to leave even though the police had issued seven verbal warnings throughout the night.

Many police officers then carried away the protesters in two separate actions at about 4:30 am and 6:30 am on Friday so as to let government employees go to work.

Chaos and wrangles flared as protesters struggled to remain and many reporters jostled and vied to cover the news.

During the operation, two demonstrators were arrested for assaulting police and later released on bail but they had to report to the police next Thursday. Five police officers were slightly injured and seven protesters felt unwell and were sent to hospital.

The police said they exercised maximum restraint and minimum force when removing the protesters. They will launch an investigation into the whole incident.

But some democrats and the Hong Kong Journalists Association condemned the police for resorting to force to remove demonstrators.

Meanwhile in Beijing, the NPCSC began a five-day meeting on Friday to discuss the interpretation on the two annexes of the Basic Law concerning the methods for the selection of the chief executive and the formation of the Legislative Council after 2007.

NPC member Tsang Tak-sing revealed to reporters after the meeting that he expected the interpretation would be lenient. The central government would not sideline the SAR government and block constitutional development in Hong Kong, he said.

It is expected that the NPCSC would approve and announce the interpretation of the Basic Law on Tuesday.

Source: China Daily HK Edition

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