The EU called for calm in Hong Kong on Tuesday evening, 12 November, as the city is once again facing violent clashes six months after the demonstrations began.
“We stand ready to support the government and people of Hong Kong to secure a durable solution to the present crisis”, said European External Action Service (EEAS) spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic in a statement sent to the media.
“It is crucial that all sides exercise restraint”, she said. Thus, “a solution should be found through genuine dialogue, reconciliation and community engagement”, Mrs Kocijancic stressed.
The spokesperson insisted that all stakeholders must renounce violence and engage constructively in de-escalation efforts. According to her, the “far-reaching” impact of the crisis on the daily lives of the population makes “a credible and swift solution to the unrest imperative”.
The Central district, which is home to many foreign companies, is the scene of demonstrations, and transport is being kept to a minimum. The Chinese university was also the scene of clashes.
The EEAS spokesperson also called for a “comprehensive” investigation into the violence, use of force and root causes of the demonstrations, considering it to be a “critical element in de-escalation efforts”. The police reportedly used live ammunition.
While the district elections scheduled for 24 November could be cancelled, Mrs Kocijancic asked that every effort be made to ensure that they are held as scheduled, considering that “this will send an important signal about the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law”. She recalled that the EU attaches great importance to the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by Hong Kong under the principle of ‘one country, two systems’. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)