Cheung Chi-kong, a member of Hong Kong's Executive Council, said he was shocked and upset over the clashes. He said hawking was not controversial, but had been used as an excuse for staging violence.
"Looking for excuses to justify the riot is not helping the rioters but driving them over another edge. People should rethink what will happen next following the violent scenes in Mong Kok," Cheung said.
The heads of Hong Kong's disciplinary forces released a joint statement on Friday to condemn the riot, and show support to the police. As of Saturday, the police arrested more than 60 suspects, and 40 of them have been charged with riot. Tsang Yok-sing, president of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, expressed his concerns.
