Hong Kong elections hinge on ‘return to peace’, People’s Daily says
- Communist Party mouthpiece’s commentary suggests end to violence necessary before November 24 district council poll
- It backs harsher police crackdown to halt the city’s unrest ‘more effectively and forcefully’
One of China’s top state media outlets has said for the first time that a return to peace is a prerequisite for holding any “fair elections” in Hong Kong, while also voicing support for a harsher police crackdown on the city’s unrest.
The morning after one of the most violent days in Hong Kong’s months-long anti-government movement, Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily ran a commentary online giving its staunch backing to the city’s police force, demanding it to be given more support to put down unrest “more effectively and forcefully”.
The commentary went on to suggest that an end to violence was necessary for the city to hold its district council elections, which are expected to take place on November 24.
“Only by supporting the police force decisively putting down the riots can [Hong Kong] return to peace and hold fair elections, to help Hong Kong start again,” the commentary said.
Concerns that the Hong Kong government might postpone the elections, amid violent attacks on candidates and protest-related vandalism, are rife in the run-up to the event.
