Fruit knife detention pierces concepts of freedom

For many mainlanders, freedom of speech and of the press, and the right to vote, are lofty ideals that few expect to enjoy. Many are content with the pragmatic freedom to live in a safe society and be able go about their daily lives free of harassment and the fear of being detained.

So it was no surprise that people were shocked to read last week of a man who had been detained by police for three days in Henan province after he was found carrying a folding fruit knife on the street.

The Henan Business Daily reported on Thursday that the man was taken to a police station by an undercover officer after getting off a bus with his friend. The sharp-eyed policeman noticed the man had a small folding knife attached to his keychain. The officer informed him that it was illegal to carry such a knife in public, and by law the man was detained for three days.

The man, a local factory worker named Wu Weichun, told the paper that he was confounded by his detention. He said he had bought the knife legally at a supermarket but did nothing dangerous with it.

"I use it to peel fruit," the man was quoted as saying. "Does this means the supermarket can sell it but I can't buy it?"

The local police take a different view. They told the paper they were merely doing their job and upholding a law stating that unauthorised people found carrying "restricted" knives in public can be fined up to 500 yuan (HK$620) or detained for five to 10 days.

The Chinese press has devoted much space to discussing the broader implications of this incident. A piece in the China Youth Daily warned that it set a precedent that anyone who bought fruit or kitchen knives from the market and tried to take them home could find themselves in the police lock-up instead.