Community groups jointly condemn violence

Fifteen community associations issued a joint statement on Thursday to denounce the ongoing spate of violence with the hope that law and order can be restored soon.

The statement said the violent demonstrations in the past two months have severely undermined Hong Kong's rule of law and the city's overall interests. The protests have also harmed the SAR's global image and hurt the feelings of mainland compatriots in Hong Kong.

It was particularly "disappointing and frightening" that a police officer was attacked with gasoline bombs on Sunday night and two mainland visitors were assaulted at Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday, it said. "How can we know the next victim won't be us or someone we know?"

The associations urged the police to rigorously enforce the law and bring assailants to justice as soon as possible so that peace and order can prevail.

The 15 associations represent Hong Kong residents from 14 mainland provinces, autonomous regions and cities - Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Hainan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Hebei, Hubei, Henan, Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin.

Generations of people from the mainland have contributed to Hong Kong's prosperity, said Gong Junlong, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organizations.

At this critical moment, Hong Kong residents should come forward to protect Hong Kong's future regardless of whey they come from, he said.

There are more than 300 Guangdong groups in the SAR with hundreds of thousands of members, said Gong, and they're willing to work with other groups to solve the problems together.