Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong hits out at accusations it was behind Yuen Long attacks, calling them ‘malicious rumours’
- Office says it firmly opposes all violent acts related to recent protests
- Foreign ministry office in city also singles out US senator Marco Rubio, saying he engaged in ‘hysterical smears and attacks on China’
In a strongly worded commentary, the state news agency Xinhua also criticised “arrogant, hypocritical and overbearing” US and British politicians who it said uphold double standards as they interfere in the affairs of Hong Kong, while Zhang Ming, the Chinese envoy to the EU, said in an opinion piece on European news site Euractiv “the very few European politicians with ulterior motives are doomed to fail in their attempt to instigate confrontation within Hong Kong’s society”.
At least 45 people, both protesters and commuters, were injured when they were attacked by about 100 men wearing white T-shirts on Sunday. Some local activists have questioned if Beijing had anything to do with the attacks.
Li Jiyi, the director of the liaison office’s New Territories office, gave a speech at a community event with hundreds of villagers and district councillors on July 11.
In a recording obtained by the Post, he appeared to encourage locals to resist protests in their neighbourhood.
