US condemns HK violence, says 'watching situation with grave concern'

The United States has expressed “grave concern” and condemned the violence during the anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong. In a statement issued on November 11, the US department urged the Hong Kong government to build on its dialogue with the public and begin efforts to address the underlying concerns driving the protest. The US has also urged the demonstrators to respond to efforts at dialogue. The statement from the US comes after the day Hong Kong faced one of the worst days of the demonstrations. 

The US State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said, "The United States is watching the situation in Hong Kong with grave concern. We condemn violence on all sides, extend our sympathies to victims of violence regardless of their political inclinations, and call for all parties -- police and protesters -- to exercise restraint”.

She further added, “The increased polarisation within Hong Kong society underscores the need for a broad-based and sincere dialogue between the government, protestors, and citizenry writ large,"

The statement has also urged Beijing to honour the commitments it made in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The commitment included that Hong Kong will “enjoy a high degree of autonomy” and the people of the region will enjoy human rights, freedom of express and peaceful assembly. The US also believes that Hong Kong will preserve its special status under US law. 

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Police official shoots a protester

A Hong Kong police officer shot at protesters during the violent clashes, on November 11, which hit at least one of them in the chest in the district of Sai Wan Ho. The clashes were broadcasted live on Facebook in which a police officer can be seen shooting a protester in the chest area when he tried to stop the officer from detaining a fellow masked protester.

Seconds after shooting the protester, the police officer fired two live rounds which led to another masked man falling to the ground. The condition of the masked protesters shot by the police officer is not known. In the video, police were apparently trying to detain both the protesters as one of them had a pool of blood next to him. It was the third such instance when pro-democracy protesters have been shot with live rounds by police. A student was shot in the chest on October 1 when he, along with other protesters, tried to attack a police officer. Another protester was shot in the leg after a policeman's car was attacked by the crowd. Both protesters survived the injuries and were arrested.

(With ANI inputs) 

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