Rioters set up barricades on streets to block traffic in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2020. (Xinhua)

Many of the most radical rioters have announced they are giving up their violent protests in Hong Kong unrest, indicating the "black terror movement" has officially died down, according to Hong Kong's former chief executive. 

Leung Chun-ying, the former top official with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, made the remarks in his latest post on his personal Facebook account on Tuesday evening. 

Leung's post came after the city's local media Tuesday reported that members of the "Torch Squad," a group that excelled at making and hurling Molotov cocktails, have announced they have disbanded, following other similar announcements last week by other radical "front-line fighter groups" such as the "Counter Dog Response Unit." 

A member of the "Torch Squad" said in a post on social media, "sorry, I now will see myself out," while complaining that a so-called ghost busting operation within the front-line fighters has undermined the unity of the groups, and they have found the fighting "has tired them."

"Ghost busting" refers to the protesters' efforts to reveal plain-clothes police officers in their groups, in response to a recently introduced police strategy.

"Counter Dog Response Unit" also commented on social media that the morale of the group has been affected by recent ghost busting operations. 

Leung said in his Facebook post that the "black terror movements have entered a third phase," as a large number of rioters have been arrested or have appeared in court, and the scale of the riots have significantly shrunk, as the police force's strength in containing the lawlessness has increased. 

Details of the rioters' criminal acts will be further exposed in court, and consequently the public is becoming more aware of their misconducts, wrote Leung.

He also predicted that more rioters will beg for mercy from the court, which would deal another heavy blow to the morale of the black terror. More members of the radical groups will become witnesses against other members, which will cause greater suspicion within the group.

At the bottom of the post, Leung noted that while hundreds of young people face jail time that could ruin their future, other members of the group of young people have even been elected as district council representatives.

The so-called solidarity of the rioters has turned out to be a total scam, he said.

He also accused that the high-rankings of the Apple Daily which flattered the arrested youngsters and those on the run as "ones who uphold the justice," while they just continue their luxurious lives by enjoying fine wines and delicacy. 

"We haven't heard of any Apple Daily boss or head of the 'pan-democracy' party bailing out their children, or showing up at court for the children facing charges," Leung wrote.

Global Times