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Why Hong Kong people join public rallies: they are afraid for their future
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Marking the opening of “Prosecution Week” last month, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said that a “recent rise in cases involving violence in public processions and the like, some of which turned into riots” demonstrated a need to better educate the Hong Kong public about the city’s criminal laws, though she did not specify which incidents she had in mind.
To some extent, I agree that a rise in violence highlights a need for education – not just because people should learn about the consequences of breaking the law, but because they need to know where to draw the line.
When you breach a rule, especially the almighty law, consequence always follows. This is common sense and everybody knows it. However, our officials are missing the reason behind all the unrest.
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To be more precise, people need a route to peaceful expression. The only reason the people come out of their comfort zones to join rallies is that they fear that there won’t be a future for the future generations. They are afraid that the city will be a totally different place to live in for the next generation.
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This isn’t something that can be dealt with purely by education. Without understanding from those sitting in high office, this problem isn’t going to go away.
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