HONG KONG • Hong Kong's new police chief called for the support of all citizens to end the social unrest that has disrupted the city for more than five months, as protesters remained inside a university for a third day yesterday, raising fears of bloody clashes with no resolution in sight.

Mr Chris Tang Ping Keung was appointed the city's new police commissioner by China's state council, or Cabinet, following the retirement of Mr Stephen Lo Wai Chung from the post. The appointment comes after the police force has been criticised by hardliners in China for not being aggressive enough in dealing with protests.

In a brief public appearance yesterday, Mr Tang warned of an "institutional mismatch" with which his 30,000-strong force was having to contend with. "There is a massive scale of breaking of the law in Hong Kong and there is a certain sector of the community that also condones that illegal activity," said Mr Tang, who was formerly the territory's No. 2 police official.

"If everyone had come out earlier to condemn the violence, society would not have turned into this state in five months," he said in an interview with the South China Morning Post. "We can end the unrest only with society's condemnation, reflection by the rioters, plus our appropriate tactics."

He also rejected a key demand of the protesters: setting up an independent commission to probe police conduct. "Our staff might think they are being particularly targeted if the well-established mechanism is bypassed. We will be disappointed," he told the Post.

During the unrest, rioters ignored and broke the rule of law, setting fires, blocking roads, and assaulting Hong Kong residents and police officers, Mr Tang said. "We hope that violence will be stopped, and that public order in Hong Kong will be restored as soon as possible," he added. He also said that fake news is undermining the reputation of a force that had long been known as one of Asia's finest.

In a statement yesterday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said: "Mr Tang has served in the Hong Kong Police Force for over 30 years and has extensive experience in criminal investigation, international liaison as well as operational command... I am confident that he will lead the police force in meeting the challenges ahead."

Expressing her appreciation for Mr Lo's contribution, Mrs Lam said: "He has demonstrated dedication and determination in safeguarding Hong Kong and upholding the rule of law in dealing with the social unrest in the past few months."

REUTERS, NYTIMES