My TakeYoung must know China is not the enemy
An approach of deterrence and encouragement should be adopted by a cash-rich Hong Kong government to stop more youngsters going down an anarchic route
The Mong Kok riot in 2016 was open warfare on the police. And the disruptive oath-taking antics of localists that followed in the same year was a none-too-subtle declaration of intent to paralyse the legislature.
The city was on the verge of becoming ungovernable. Under pressure from Beijing, the government took a big gamble and pursued a hard line – to disqualify radical localists from becoming lawmakers and to go after the rioters.
Teenager jailed for ‘wanton use of violence’ during Mong Kok riot
You may like or despise the administration of Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, but having a working government is far better than the anarchy to which the opposition was leading the city.
Nine rioters are the latest to be jailed from 28 to 51 months. A 10th was sent to a detention centre. Those are among the heaviest sentences handed out so far in the prosecution of more than 100 activists and protesters stemming from the Occupy protests of 2014 and the Mong Kok riot.
The opposition has steadfastly argued that the Mong Kok disturbance was no more than unrest. By charging participants with rioting, government prosecutors were being used to punish political dissent.