Ambassador Zhang Ming, Head of Chinese Mission to the EU, Speaks to BBC on the Situation in Hong Kong

　　2019年8月9日，驻欧盟使团团长张明大使接受英国广播公司（BBC）采访，以下是文字实录：

　　BBC：您如何看待当前香港局势？

　　张大使：这是极端暴力，同和平示威游行无关。一些极端分子侮辱国旗国徽，存储爆炸物，实施纵火，打砸车辆等。这些是严重违法行为。如果任由这种“暴”和“乱”持续下去，势必毁掉“一国两制”，毁掉香港的繁荣稳定。香港当前最重要的任务就是止暴制乱、恢复秩序。

On 9 August 2019, Ambassador Zhang Ming, Head of Chinese Mission to the EU, had an interview with BBC. The following is the transcript:

BBC: How do you see the situation now in Hong Kong?

Ambassador: I think it's extreme violence, not peaceful demonstration. Some radicals defaced the national emblem and flag, stored explosives, set fire on public buildings, smashed cars, and so on. So this is law-breaking. Should the chaos and violence continue, prosperity and stability in Hong Kong would be put to ruins. And so would "One Country, Two Systems". The top priority at the moment is to stop violence and chaos and restore law and order.

　　BBC：但此前有两百万人走上街头抗议，占香港总人口的四分之一，（说明）相当一部分人对香港当前的治理方式感到不满。

　　张大使：但我们看到的是，现在已经出现暴乱，暴乱必须得到制止。

BBC: You say that. But certainly earlier in these protests some two million people were taking to the streets. That's a quarter of the population of Hong Kong. That's a significant number of people dissatisfied with the way in which the territory is being run.

Ambassador: But now, as we saw, it is turning into riots and chaos. So we have to stop the chaos.

　　BBC：您是否认同，暴力是来自香港年轻一代的沮丧情绪？这些年轻人在香港回归时甚至还没出生，他们希望更多地掌控自身命运，与1997年（前出生的）的一代人诉求不同。

　　张大使：有些人躲在幕后操纵，把青年人当做他们政治图谋的棋子和炮灰。我相信，随着幕后操纵者逐渐暴露，越来越多的青年人会看清他们的面目，迷途知返。

BBC: You don't say that violence is growing out of frustration by a younger generation of Hong Kongers, who weren't even born when Hong Kong was returned by Britain to China, who feel that they want more control over their own destinies, and who perhaps have different aspirations than those who were around in 1997.

Ambassador: There are some people who are plotting behind the scenes and who are trying to use the youngsters as a political pawn, which is very dangerous. I believe that, as their real motives are laid bare, more and more young people would come to realize this and change course.

　　BBC：本周国务院港澳办主任张晓明对记者表示，如果形势继续恶化下去，在香港政府无法控制局面的情况下，中央政府绝对不会坐视不管。您能就此展开谈一下吗？

　　张大使：众所周知,香港是中国的一部分。包括香港人在内的所有中国人民都珍视和维护香港特区的和平与稳定，不会允许局势失控。根据《基本法》，中央政府有足够多的办法、足够强大的力量维护香港稳定繁荣及“一国两制”。

BBC: This week, Head of Chinese Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Mr Zhang Xiaoming told reporters, and I quote, that if the situation worsens further, and there's turmoil that the Hong Kong government is unable to control, the Central Government will absolutely not just watch without doing anything. Could you maybe expand on that?

Ambassador: As we know, Hong Kong is part of China. All Chinese people, including people in Hong Kong, treasure and uphold peace and stability in the Hong Kong SAR. The Chinese people would not allow the situation to get out of control.

According to the Basic Law, the Central Government has sufficient means and capabilities to maintain stability and prosperity and a peaceful life for people in Hong Kong, and to safeguard the "One Country, Two Systems".