The people's backlash begins. Forget Article 23 - if these comments posted on the Nicholas Tse Zone Discussion Forum are to be believed, Tung Chee-hwa has more serious problems on his hands.
'We must all be true Nic fans now. We should be demonstrating outside the Court of Final Appeal or going on hunger strike. We should refuse to go to school or work until an amnesty is granted. This will create instability in Hong Kong society, something Mr Tung Chee-hwa fears the most. If this happens, it is more than likely that Mr Tung will put pressure on the court to free Nic.'
'If we are going to help Nic, we will only do so through lawful means. Any alternatives, such as hacking into Web sites and hijacking planes to Hong Kong are simply out of the question.'
'Could Mr Tung ask the NPC [National People's Congress] to reinterpret the Basic Law in order to make Tse innocent?'
'There is still hope for Nic. The judge, after all, is a sentient human being ... I'm sure he will be touched by Nic's repentance. All he has to do on October 16 [the day he is sentenced] is cry. Cry. Cry like a boy; only the most heartless person could bear the sight of an innocent child being sent to jail.'
'Can anyone please tell me where to enrol on a voluntary prison programme so that I can stay with my idol? Many thanks.'