Cross-sector campaign calls on public to voice support for police

Representatives of different sectors in Hong Kong have appealed to the public to reject violence and to support the city police's efforts to safeguard the rule of law.

Safeguard Hong Kong — a cross-sector alliance set up to oppose the recent violent protests — said it hopes Hong Kong people can join a scheduled citywide pro-police campaign on Saturday. Activities will include sending "thank-you notes" to the police and expressing online gratitude to the force.

People will visit the police's Central District Headquarter at 9:30 am on Saturday, then move to the Kwun Tong and Kwai Chung police stations.

The organization encouraged members of the public to take photos with the police and post them on social media.

Henry Tang Ying-yen, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, expressed his concerns over the recent riots and mass rallies. Tang, a former Hong Kong chief secretary for administration, said the most significant current priorities are stopping the violence, safeguarding "one country, two systems", and mending the social rifts.

Tang said the escalating riots and mass protests violated Hong Kong's core value as a city with peace and the rule of law. Only after stopping the violence and chaos can the government begin to carry out rational discussions to improve Hong Kong people's livelihoods, build platforms to cultivate youth, and develop the economy, he said.

Moreover, in response to recent incidents during which radical protesters defiled the Chinese national flag and tossed it into the sea, the organization will kick off a campaign to reinforce to the public the sanctity of the flag. The event aims to safeguard "one country, two systems" and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, convener of Safeguard Hong Kong, said the group has ordered 12,000 national flags and urged the public to hang the flag at proper places and share on social media their photos of themselves with the flag.