4. HOW DOES CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SEE IT?

The central government authorities have demanded order be restored and violence be stopped.

The criminal activities blatantly challenged the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle and they must be punished by law, said Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, in early August.

Like many Hong Kong people have said, the ordinance amendment issue has changed in its essence and bears the features of a "color revolution."

The central authorities firmly support Chief Executive Carrie Lam in leading the HKSAR government's law-based governance, and they have confidence in Lam's wisdom and ability to handle the current situation in Hong Kong and lead the HKSAR government's administrative team to move forward and make further progress, Zhang said.

China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said no responsible government or rule-of-law society would tolerate these acts, emphasizing that Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and brook no interference by external forces.