MOSCOW/BEIJING. Aug 13 (Interfax) - Hong Kong protesters have taken advantage of the extradition law and turned their demonstrations into illegal, dangerous activity, the new Chinese ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui, said in an article written specially for Interfax.
"There were plans to enact amendments to the Law on Extradition to Mainland China and in the Resolution on Mutual Assistance in Legal Affairs in the Xianggang Special Administrative District (Hong Kong), which triggered mass demonstrations and gatherings. The latter were misused and turned into violent incidents by the perpetrators," Zhang said.
The Hong Kong authorities met the protesters' demand and suspended consideration of relevant legislative initiatives, but the illegal activity did not stop, he said.
"They attacked police officers, committed arson, made bombs, blocked the traffic, and carried out other illegal actions. Their behavior has gone beyond the limits of peaceful demonstrations," Zhang said.
Hong Kong has lived through a series of crises over 22 years, after it returned under China's jurisdiction in 1997; "its status of an international financial center and a shipping and trade hub has strengthened" and it has turned into one of the economically freest and competitive parts of the world, he said.
Mass protests started in Hong Kong in the first half of June following plans of the local administration to modify the extradition law and to allow extradition of criminals to mainland China. The plans were called off, but protesters demanded that the harsh police response to demonstrations be investigated and that Hong Kong head Carrie Lam step down.
Beijing said on Monday that unrest had been showing signs of terrorist activity.