BEIJING, Aug. 5 -- The bottom line of the 'one country, two systems' principle brooks no challenge.
Black-clad, masked protestors removed the Chinese national flag from a flagpole in Tsim Sha Tsui of Hong Kong and later flung the flag into the water Saturday, an unforgivable, lawless act that has blatantly offended the national dignity, is an insult to all Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, and must be severely punished in accordance with law.
Escalating violence by radicals instigated by behind-the-scenes masterminds since mid-June has severely undermined the law-based governance and social order of Hong Kong, negatively impacted the local economy and people's livelihoods, and damaged the region's image.