Don’t ‘play with fire’, says China

Clearing the air: Yang Guang (centre), spokesperson for the Chinese government’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, speaking during a press conference in Beijing. — AP

BEIJING: Protesters in Hong Kong must not “play with fire” and mistake Beijing’s restraint for weakness, China said in its sharpest rebuke yet of the “criminals” behind demonstrations in the city whom it vowed to bring to justice.

Hong Kong has suffered weeks of sometimes violent protests that began with opposition to a now-suspended extradition law, which would have allowed suspects to be tried in mainland courts.