BEIJING -- A spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said Tuesday that a small group of rioters in Hong Kong intend to confront the central government, achieve total autonomy and jeopardize "one country, two systems."

"They aim to put Hong Kong into chaos, paralyze the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, and then seize the administration power, thus turning Hong Kong into an independent or semi-independent political entity," said spokesperson Yang Guang at a press conference.