The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) regrets and condemns the eruption of street violence that occurred yesterday in Mongkok and Causeway Bay.
The principles of democracy and rule of law are closely intertwined and, as such, undermining the latter carries the real risk of a spiral towards a state of extreme anarchy. Hong Kong is strenuously opposed to any form of violence that tramples on democracy and the rule of law. We again appeal for calm and restraint, which can only be achieved if government and the students were to resume dialogue. Illegal occupation and finger-pointing have no place in the resolution of differences.
Mr Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, BPA Chairman, said that the latest developments were the last thing that people in Hong Kong wanted to see. If the situation was allowed to deteriorate further, society would become even more polarized and chaos would ensue. He appealed to all parties to return to the negotiating table to break the deadlock.
Mr Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, BPA Vice Chairman, added that the many years of hard work by our forefathers in building up Hong Kong to its present day status as an international financial centre could be easily undone by recent events. He pleaded for rationality to avoid the destruction of Hong Kong, which we all call home.
Mr Christopher Cheung Wah-fung, BPA Vice Chairman, hoped students could adopt a less drastic and law-abiding approach to engage government in working out a mutually acceptable consensus that is beneficial to society as a whole.
Occupy Central has entered its seventh day; the BPA reiterates its call for all parties to treasure the opportunities of dialogue as a means to resolving differences and restoring normalcy.
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