Editor's Note: John Gong is a research fellow at Charhar Institute and professor at the University of International Business and Economics. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The essential issue of the current controversy in Hong Kong is rule of law over rule of law. The second rule of law concerns a fairly technical legal matter. Hong Kong doesn’t have extradition arrangements with the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Macau and other jurisdictions.

Thus it doesn’t command the legal basis to prosecute criminals who have committed crimes abroad, nor can it extradite such criminals to a foreign jurisdiction to face justice. Thus, it came to Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s legislative push to close such a legal loophole.

But the first rule of law, which in many ways is decidedly more important than the second rule of law, concerns how to go about achieving that statutory goal. And what some people in Hong Kong have done on June 12, together with what the backing forces behind those people outside of Hong Kong have done, represent a total insult to and a blatant attack on the very rule of law that those people are purportedly fighting for.

"Some people have resorted to dangerous or even potentially fatal acts. These include arson, using sharpened iron bars and hurling bricks to attack police officers, as well as destroying public facilities," Carrie Lam told reporters in an interview after clashes erupted between police and protesters on Wednesday.

This is no peaceful demonstration anymore. This is no citizens voicing public opinion anymore. This is a hundred-percent mob riot aimed at violently circumventing a democratic process that has stood the long test of time in the history of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has seen plenty of this kind of thuggery before. Throughout all them, the Hong Kong police have demonstrated the utmost level of professionalism commensurate with a thriving democracy.

Thanks to the Hong Kong administration’s determination and its police’s professionalism, rule of law has been unwaveringly defended and served.

Opponents of this extradition amendment could have chosen to go through a due process to have their voices heard and adopted. Yet regrettably, many of them have settled on a path of violence, chicanery and everything that stands opposite to democratic values and rule of law.

In a way this mob riot in Hong Kong resembles the Yellow Vest movement in France, which has also turned pretty violent in Paris in recent months. Yes, these working class folks may have a legitimate political cause here, but their actions have all but nullified that legitimacy.

Instead of a dialogue, a civil discourse or other legal venues, they choose a path of sabotage, vandalism and self-destruction. The mobs in Hong Kong on June 12 are essentially the same. Same sabotage, same vandalism and same self-destruction.

Fortunately the Hong Kong special administration answered to the challenge to the rule of law with the rule of law. On one side, it has suppressed this riot with absolute resolve, and on the other side the restoration of order has been with utmost restraint. 

In addition, Carrie Lam announced on Saturday that the government would suspend the amendments to extradition bill, which is a laudable move in consideration of the immense political cost on her part for a temporary setback in this legislative initiative. Nevertheless for the sake of Hong Kong’s peace and prosperity, that is well worth the cost.

Carrie Lam and her administration have heard your voice. Now is the time for those folks on the opposite side of extradition bill to do some soul-searching. What a mess have you created in your beautiful home?

(Cover: An aerial view of the scenery in Hong Kong, June 19, 2016. /Xinhua News Agency)
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