Beijing reaffirms support for Carrie Lam and Hong Kong police. Excludes recourse to army

Chinese Office for Hong Kong and Macao spokesman says the demonstrations in Hong Kong have become "destructive".   Forces "behind the scenes" and "external powers" - in particular Taiwan and Western countries - "use young people" against China.  After yesterday's strike,  some police stations besieged.  Clashes between demonstrators and groups of ordinary people.  In Shenzhen, 12,000 Chinese policemen hold "anti-riot" training with young men dressed in black.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The spokesman of the Chinese Office for Hong Kong and Macao, Yang Guang, together with his colleague Xu Luying, held a press conference today, following the one on July 29, to reiterate China's trust in Carrie Lam,  head of the Hong Kong executive, and towards the work of the police of the territory in containing the violence of the demonstrations that arose to oppose the extradition law. tHese protests have now become "destructive" for Hong Kong life, and could undermine the "One country, two systems" principle , on which the liberal style of the territory is based.

 For Yang and Xu it is now "evident" that behind the demonstrations there are "gray eminences", "external forces" - in particular Taiwan and Western countries - that are "using young people" against China.

Urged by several questions from journalists, Yang however ruled out the use of Chinese army liberation soldiers to restore order to Hong Kong and once again emphasized Beijing's support for Carrie Lam and the police.  He also asked all Hong Kong residents to condemn the violence.  "They are not alone, they are backed by 1.4 billion people in China who are all defenders of our national flag".

Yang Guang's "peaceful" stance comes as news reports from Shenzhen (Guangdong) describe more than 12 thousand policemen  gathered for anti-riot training.  Among the exercises, there are also clashes with a mass of young people, dressed in black T-shirts and with yellow helmets, just as they are seen in Hong Kong (photo 2).

Meanwhile, the situation in Hong Kong is increasingly tense.  After a general strike that crippled city and air traffic and reduced trade in the evening, many demonstrators were unleashed against several police stations in Tin Shui Wai, Tai Po, Sha Tin, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wong Tai Sin, Sham  Shui Po, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan.  In some cases it was a real siege, with Molotov cocktails and brick thrown.  This has generated new clashes between police and protesters and in some cases between ordinary people against demonstrators.  At least 80 protesters have been arrested, leading to over 500 arrested since the first demonstration on June 9.

For Carrie Lam, who spoke yesterday morning, the anti-extradition movement has gone further and has become an anti-China campaign that challenges "national sovereignty and threatens 'one country, two systems', destroying the prosperity and stability of the city"  .