Attack on lawmaker at Hong Kong airport a serious security breach, and a slur on the city’s name
Albert Cheng says the attack on Nathan Law by pro-China activists appeared organised, and the security forces must be held accountable for providing inadequate protection
Pro-China protesters injured not only Law but also at least two journalists. Protesters hurled verbal abuse as well as an unidentified liquid at Law. The rabble should have been arrested for violating the Airport Authority Ordinance. The fact that the police failed to stop the liquid from being splashed on Law is particularly alarming. This was a serious security breach at the airport.
Watch: Lawmaker Nathan Law attacked at the Hong Kong airport
Assault on Nathan Law is an attack on us all
Our law enforcement officers should have learned a painful lesson from this tragedy. All measures should have been taken to stop people hurling the liquid at Law. Ultimately, the Legislative Council should summon the commissioner of police and the secretary for security to account for the incident.
Law was accused of promoting independence for Hong Kong, a charge that has been denied by his group. Demosisto’s position is only that the people of Hong Kong are entitled to have their own say in shaping their political future.
Since Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying took office, pro-China organisations have mushroomed. The groups collaborated during the Umbrella Revolution to bully the pro-democracy participants. They have been particularly aggressive in going after the young anti-government politicians, including Law and Joshua Wong Chi-fung. They even followed them to Macau, Thailand and Taiwan.
Watch: Joshua Wong under police protection in Taipei
If a similar disruption had occurred in other airports, a special police force would have been dispatched and subdued the perpetrators before they could do any damage. I came back from Bangkok at around the same time, and I witnessed the whole episode.
The group was well organised. They had been waiting to harass their target
The group was well organised. They had been waiting to harass their target. Throughout the incident, Law was only protected by airport security officers who have no law enforcement power. This was inadequate. Where was the airport special unit? What would have happened if a terrorist had mixed in with the group?
The Leung government has a track record of pursuing its own political agenda at the expense of public interest.
It was not an isolated incident and drew international attention and criticism about airport security in Hong Kong. Now, ruffians have connived to make a violent political statement at the airport. With such substandard security services, it is reasonable to question whether Hong Kong is sufficiently prepared to tackle more serious attempts to breach security.
The Leung government, with the backing of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, has stirred up anger and hatred among the people through the “Love” groups. The foundations of Hong Kong as a place that cherishes freedom of speech have been shaken.
Hong Kong and Taiwanese forum radicals accused of trying to ‘split country’
Our economy is going downhill, yet we still eclipse our competitors in terms of passenger and cargo flights. If the Hong Kong International Airport loses its claim to be the best, what other significant advantages does this city possess? Not many.
Albert Cheng King-hon is a political commentator. [email protected]
