HONG KONG, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Wednesday expressed extreme indignation and strong condemnation over mobsters' assaults on and forcible holding of two mainland residents at the Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday.

At the unlawful assembly at the airport on Tuesday, protesters tore off their fake mask of the so-called "peace, rationality and non-violence" and paralyzed the operation of the airport, the office said in a statement.

The protesters hindered, insulted and assaulted travelers of different nationalities and genders and even those with illnesses and innocent children, severely infringing their legitimate personal rights and tarnishing Hong Kong's international reputation, the statement read.

What's even more outrageous is that, on Tuesday night, violent radicals besieged, frisked, illegally held and brutally beat a Global Times reporter who was conducting interviews on the spot, as well as a Shenzhen resident who held a legal travel permit and stopped at the airport to see others off. The radicals also attacked a police officer who arrived at the site to help escort the victims, according to the statement.

The mobsters' forcible holding of and brutal assault on the reporter was a challenge and insult to the global press and a serious trampling on the freedom of the press, it said.

The inhumane violent acts showed a total disregard of the law and an infringement on human rights, overstepping the bottom line of a civilized society. The violent acts are no different from the atrocities committed by terrorists, the statement read.

The office expressed its solicitude to the two victims and respect to the Global Times reporter who bravely shouted "I support the Hong Kong police" even when his life was threatened.

The office said it will as always assist relevant parties in effectively safeguarding personal safety and lawful rights and interests of mainland residents in Hong Kong, and firmly support the Hong Kong police in arresting mobsters and bringing them to justice in accordance with the law as soon as possible. Enditem

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