Chinese President Xi Jinping's latest remarks on the Hong Kong situation are the strongest from the central government on ending violence and chaos in Hong Kong, a spokesperson said Friday. 
  
President Xi's remarks on Thursday in Brazil have pointed the way to stabilizing the situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said Yang Guang, spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. 

While attending the 11th BRICS summit in Brasilia, President Xi said the most pressing task for Hong Kong at present is to bring violence and chaos to an end and restore order.  

The president's words came as disturbances in Hong Kong have stretched into more than five months and radical violent crimes have been escalating recently, the spokesperson said. 
  
His remarks are a strong support to the HKSAR government, a great inspiration to Hong Kong residents, and a stern warning to the rioters and their shadow supporting forces, Yang said.

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The office will work to implement the president's requirements to firmly support the chief executive in leading the HKSAR government to govern in accordance with the law, firmly support the Hong Kong police in strictly enforcing the law, and firmly support the Hong Kong judicial bodies in severely punishing the violent criminals in accordance with the law, Yang said. 
  
The spokesperson pledged various means of supporting and encouraging the Hong Kong people from all walks of life to build up "overwhelming positive energy" in countering violence and safeguarding the rule of law, and for the end of chaos and restoration of social stability in Hong Kong as soon as possible. 
  
"The central government and 1.4 billion people of China will always be the strongest backing for Hong Kong to overcome any challenges and risks," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior official with the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR also said on Friday that Xi's remarks have pointed the way to ending violence and chaos and restoring order in Hong Kong. 

Noting that radical violent crimes have pushed Hong Kong to an "extremely dangerous" position, the official called on the administrative, legislative and judicial bodies of the HKSAR to work collaboratively and take proactive measures to stop violence and restore order.

Calls for ending violence, upholding rule of law

Commenting on Xi's remarks, some lawmakers and political advisers in Hong Kong called for joint efforts of the residents to end violence soon. 

"President Xi's remarks have pointed the way to ending violence and chaos in Hong Kong, boosting the confidence of Hong Kong residents enormously," said Peter Lam Kin-ngok, a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee. 

He called on people from all sectors in Hong Kong to join hands in ending violence and protecting their homeland.

Ng Leung-sing, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), stressed that the rule of law is a "core value" of Hong Kong, adding that different departments of the HKSAR should work together to uphold the rule of law and bring an end to violence and chaos. 

"All people who love Hong Kong should jointly support the HKSAR government to govern in accordance with the law, support the police to strictly enforce the law, and support the judicial bodies to severely punish the violent criminals, in order to bring an early end to the violence, which is currently almost out of control," said Yeung Chi-hung, a member of the CPPCC National Committee from Hong Kong. 

Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, a lawmaker in Hong Kong's Legislative Council, said violence affects everybody in Hong Kong and must be ended so as to maintain prosperity and stability in the city. 

(With input from Xinhua)