Only two days left before the District Council elections on Sunday. In keeping with the principles and basic requirements for democratic elections, all parties concerned must stop any incompatible behavior for voting to be fair and valid. In Hong Kong’s case, this means those who have been engaged in violence and vandalism — particularly against rival candidates — must prove they are truly committed to democracy by abandoning all illegal activities at once.

It has been more than five months since violent attacks on innocent bystanders as well as police officers replaced peaceful demonstration in Hong Kong. On top of economic losses caused by widespread vandalism, the madness took two lives earlier this month all in the name of freedom and democracy. No matter what excuses the rioters, masterminds and organizers of the “black revolution” use to justify such bigotry, they cannot deny or cover up the truth and facts.

Hong Kong society, including those used as pawns to perpetrate the atrocities, is a victim of an international conspiracy to contain China. The city of 7.5 million has played a very important role in the country’s reform and opening-up for over four decades now and benefited tremendously from it. That is the main reason why certain Western powers are “punishing” Hong Kong now. The purpose is to distract the central government from focusing on further and deeper reform as well as economic development.

As a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong has no better way to maintain stability and prosperity as well as its market economy and way of life than adhering to “one country, two systems” in accordance with the Basic Law of the HKSAR. As for its socio-economic development, it would have achieved more than one milestone had there not been illegal disruptions such as illegal “Occupy Central” movement in 2014 and the ongoing “black revolution”. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong would have elected the chief executive by universal suffrage two years ago and possibly the Legislative Council the same way. But the path to greater democracy has been blocked by political disturbances triggered and manipulated by certain Western powers.

The District Council elections are considered an opportunity for the opposition bloc to win big against the pro-establishment camp. If so, the least they can do is to draw a line against all illegal activities and especially violence to show more than 3 million registered voters they are sincere and serious about winning fair and square. Let’s hope the “pan-democrats” will live up to their billing and prove they deserve the public trust and support they so desperately want.