The central government issued a stern warning on Wednesday to the radical demonstrators in Hong Kong that it will not stand by and allow the situation in the special administrative region to further deteriorate.

The message, conveyed by Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, at a forum in Shenzhen, was Beijing's latest and strongest response to what Zhang said was the gravest situation the SAR has faced since its return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

The campaign of disruption has continued to escalate with increasingly frequent violent disturbances and a growing number of ugly incidents.

The disorder, which is having an increasingly broad impact on society, has revealed the true motive of the ringleaders.

By instigating the waves of violence, which are causing tremendous damage to Hong Kong's economy and international reputation, these troublemakers are trying to hold the SAR government to ransom.

Their aim is to provoke a strong response that will further play into their claims that the city is losing its special status.

And judging from the acts of the extreme insurrectionists who have defaced the national emblem and insulted the national flag, the ultimate ambition of some of the agitators is actually to champion Hong Kong separatism.

That is why the central government once again expressed its firm backing for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the SAR government and the Hong Kong Police Force. Their task is to restore order in Hong Kong.

Should the disruption continue, the central government can provide assistance from the PLA garrison at the request of the SAR authorities as Article 14 states. If necessary, as authorized by Article 18 of the SAR's Basic Law, the central authorities can intervene should the situation go beyond the control of the SAR government or it decides the SAR is in a state of emergency.

While there are grievances to be heard and issues to be addressed, the bottom line of one country cannot be violated. The people of Hong Kong will not allow this to happen; the people of the mainland will not allow this to happen.