HONG KONG – Protest violence is "destroying" the foundation of the city's stability and prosperity, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council stressed on Wednesday.

The remarks came after the often-violent anti-government protests, which began in June last year, resurfaced in Hong Kong during the Labor Day holiday.

On May 1, groups of radicals flouted a ban on social gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, staging illegal assemblies and hurling gasoline bombs at police vehicles. The radical protests have laid bare the ill intentions of the violent forces and the behind-the-scene plotters, organizers and instigators to drag Hong Kong into an abyss, a spokesperson for the office said in a statement.

Denouncing the "burn with us" mentality in Hong Kong and terming the protest violence as "political virus", the spokesperson said such radical violence has caused extensive disruptions, leaving profound adverse impact on the society. The radical force has become the biggest threat to the city's stability and prosperity, it added.

"Hong Kong will not enjoy a day of peace until violence is eradicated," the spokesperson said in the statement, noting that the central government will never sit idly and allow this destructive force to act wantonly.

The central government bears the greatest responsibility for maintaining the constitutional order in the HKSAR and for safeguarding national security, the spokesperson said, noting that it also bears the greatest concern for safeguarding the fundamental interests of Hong Kong and the fundamental wellbeing of Hong Kong compatriots.

The spokesperson called on the whole society to act in concert to stop violence and chaos, restore order, unite to fight the COVID-19 epidemic, save the economy, improve people's livelihood and jointly build the homeland.

In face of the current predicament, more than 1,500 representatives of various sectors of Hong Kong society on Tuesday launched the Hong Kong Coalition with an aim of building consensus and bringing Hong Kong back on track.

"We'd like to join the coalition in appealing to people to choose development over the 'burn with us' mentality, the rule of law over chaos, unity over division and promote Hong Kong's efforts to start afresh," the spokesperson said.

Hong Kong's bright future lies only in the adherence to and the full and accurate implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle, the spokesperson said.

"The central government has sufficient sincerity and confidence to ensure that the 'one country, two systems' policy remains unchanged and is unwaveringly upheld, as well as sufficient determination and capabilities to ensure that in practice it is not bent or distorted," the spokesperson said.

Battered by the unrest and the pandemic, the city's economy contracted 8.9 percent in the first quarter of 2020, recording the steepest quarterly plunge on record.

"Indeed, Hong Kong is in a predicament," the spokesperson said, citing many contributing factors including the rippling effects of a struggling global economy adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The biggest culprit, however, comes from inside, as radicals who are blatantly engaging in violence are the most malicious, destructive and toxic forces, the spokesperson said.

Since June 2019, the forces have been blatantly challenging the "one country, two systems" principle, trampling on the rule of law, putting people's lives in danger with acts of violence, arson and vandalism.

Their villainy has kept tourists away, dealing a heavy blow to investors' confidence, damaging the business climate and international image of Hong Kong and bringing huge economic losses, said the spokesperson.

"The violent forces are destroying the foundation of prosperity and stability in Hong Kong," said the spokesperson.

The HKMAO urged the public to firmly denounce violence. It appealed especially to influential organizations and individuals to diligently perform their duty to counter violence.

The only path to a brighter future of Hong Kong is to fully and accurately implement the "one country, two systems" principle, the office stressed.

With Xinhua inputs