Letters | Hong Kong protest chaos risks hurting global image of city as a free society

Holidaying in Canada earlier this month, I watched patriots there on Canada Day, July 1, waving their national flags in exuberant pride and celebrating their homeland’s success in the past year. Meanwhile, their local news depicted Hong Kong’s establishment-day festivities as a stark contrast to their own; mass protests and the vandalising of the Legislative Council complex.

The extradition bill controversy is not only affecting the lives of Hongkongers, it has also drawn intense international media attention. What started as a peaceful protest in early June gradually morphed into mass demonstrations, scuffles between our youth and police and the frequent occupation of major landmarks and roads. Eventually, Hong Kong risks being perceived as a lawless society governed by an ineffectual government and police force.

The consequences for Hong Kong’s international relationships are not insignificant. The tourism and retail industries have suffered a decline in recent weeks, possibly due to a hesitancy to visit a city perceived to be rife with chaos. In the long term, Hong Kong could lose its reputation as a free society and its share of expatriates, who fuel the city’s economic growth and improve our population’s cultural vibrancy.