BEIJING - It has now come to the crucial juncture of safeguarding the bottom-line of "one country, two systems" principle and maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, said a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Tuesday.

The task of ending violence and chaos in Hong Kong is a cardinal issue on which Hong Kong's future hinges, Yang Guang said at a press conference, adding that there is no middle ground and there should be no hesitation, indecision or wavering on the issue.