China's central government condemned on Tuesday the ransacking of Hong Kong's legislature and said it backed the city authorities to investigate the "criminal responsibility of violent offenders".

The semi-autonomous financial hub has been thrown into crisis by weeks of massive demonstrations over a bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.

But on Monday — the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover to China — anger spilled over as groups of mostly young, hardline protesters, broke into the legislative council where they hung Hong Kong's colonial-era flag and left anti-Beijing graffiti.

"These serious illegal actions trample on the rule of law in Hong Kong, undermine Hong Kong's social order and harm the fundamental interests of Hong Kong," the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, said in a statement by an unnamed spokesperson.

"It is a blatant challenge to the 'one country, two systems' bottom line. We express our vehement condemnation against this," the spokesperson said.

Under the terms of the 1997 handover between colonial power Britain to China, Hong Kong is to be governed under its own laws with special rights including freedom of speech and an independent judiciary until 2047.

The statement said Beijing strongly supports Hong Kong's government and the police.

The central government "also supports the relevant agencies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to investigate the criminal responsibility of violent offenders in accordance with the law, to restore normal social order as soon as possible, to protect the personal and property safety of the citizens, and to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability," it said.

Hong Kong grapples with protest aftermath as China demands criminal probe
Hong Kong (AFP) July 2, 2019 –

Hong Kong Tuesday grappled with the aftermath of a night of unprecedented anti-government protests which saw parliament ransacked, as Beijing called for a criminal probe into the unparalleled challenge to its authority.

The semi-autonomous financial hub has been thrown into crisis by weeks of demonstrations over a bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland, with the issue becoming a lightning rod for resentment towards Beijing.

On Monday — the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover to China — anger spilled over as groups of mostly young, hardline protesters, breached the legislative council.

They hung the city's colonial-era flag in the debating chamber, scrawled messages such as "Hong Kong is not China" on walls, and defaced the city's seal with spray-paint.

Police charged into the building shortly after midnight to retake control.

The events pose an unprecedented challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and on Tuesday, Beijing wasted no time in asking Hong Kong to investigate the "criminal responsibility of violent offenders".

"These serious illegal actions trample on the rule of law in Hong Kong, undermine Hong Kong's social order and harm the fundamental interests of Hong Kong," the relevant State Council office said.

Hong Kong has been rocked by massive protests over the past three weeks. The rallies — including a huge pro-democracy march on Monday — have been largely peaceful while calling on the city's Beijing-appointed chief executive Carrie Lam to resign.

But they have failed to win concessions, with Lam refusing to permanently shelve the extradition law or step down, and by Monday some hardline protesters appeared to have reached breaking point, and stormed the legislature.

– 'Tyranny and imperial rule' –

Lam — whose approval ratings are at a record low — condemned "the extreme use of violence", describing the vandalism as "heartbreaking and shocking".

The legislature was closed Tuesday, as police collected evidence from the debris-strewn building, while workers swept surrounding areas littered with shattered glass, broken umbrellas and hard hats.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu, who was stopped from entering his office, said police told him the building was "a crime scene".

Legislative council president Andrew Leung, whose portrait was among those defaced by protesters, said major meetings were now cancelled until October.

"Our security systems, our fire services, our lifts… need to be tested before we can resume any meetings", the pro-Beijing politician said.

Under the terms of the 1997 handover from British to Chinese rule, Hong Kong enjoys rights and liberties unseen on the mainland. But protesters accuse Beijing of reneging on that deal with the help of unelected leaders.

Activist Joshua Wong, who was the face of the city's 2014 pro-democracy demonstrations, told reporters the protests were a response to "the tyranny…(and) imperial rule of Beijing and the Hong Kong government".

Veteran pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo accused Lam of "trying to shift public opinion by focusing on our young offenders".

"Instead of trying to solve the problems being raised they are trying to solve the problem raisers and that is a very communist tactic", she said.

– 'Gentle hearts' –

On Monday, Washington voiced support for the protesters, with President Donald Trump saying they were "looking for democracy".

"Unfortunately, some governments don't want democracy", he added, in an apparent swipe at Beijing.

Chinese state media dismissed the protests as "mob violence".

"A zero-tolerance policy is the only remedy for such destructive behaviour", the Global Times daily wrote in an editorial.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt expressed "unwavering" support for Hong Kong's freedoms" but urged restraint from protesters.

Analysts said the chaotic scenes showing demonstrators tearing down portraits and spraying graffiti signalled a dangerous turn.

"The gestures were meant to provoke the Chinese authorities", said political analyst Joseph Cheng.

"They are gestures of defiance rather than a genuine political action," he said, warning they would likely "be seized upon by Beijing and by the Carrie Lam administration as justification for a crackdown".

The increasingly hardline tactics have divided Hong Kongers.

Brokerage executive Chris Cheung told AFP Monday's protest was "unwise and unnecessary".

"Violence can't change the people's attitude, only reason will," he said.

But clean-up volunteer Blue Wong said she was "angry with the government for pushing the young generation to such a stage".

"I won't criticise or judge the youngsters. Even though their actions are violent, their hearts are gentle", she said.

"They are fighting for a better Hong Kong."