Sentiments suggest a change of name

The police force's in-house magazine, Offbeat, has been flooded with letters of congratulation about what a superb job the police did containing the post-'80s protesters outside Legco. The rally against the proposed express rail link to Guangzhou has been described by some letter writers as 'violent' and the protesters as 'villains'. One letter came straight from the head of the anti-crime subcommittee of the Central and Western District Council, praising the officers' restraint, patience and professionalism. Another one compares those young villains to robbers and criminals.

'Police faced rudeness, obscene and violent behaviour from the rioters,' one letter says. 'But in the face of such provocations, the police officers understood the need to do their duty quietly. I, too, with my own personal disappointments and misfortunes, understand that need. Both I and the police would not vent our frustration and anger at other innocent people, unlike those who tried to exploit the high-speed rail link.'

Reading the self-satisfaction and self-congratulation not only in the pages of Offbeat, but in statements made by police commissioner Tang King-shing, maybe the magazine really should be called Beat Off.