Police restrain protesters trying to prevent Chai Wan-bound trains from leaving the Admiralty MTR station by obstructing train doors during the morning rush hour of July 24. The protesters were taking part in a non-cooperation campaign against MTR Corp to seek accountability over violent attacks on passengers at Yuen Long station on July 21. Photo: Nora Tam
Successfully operated or not, the strategic target of each protest is clear: to destroy whatever Hong Kong citizens believe in, with shocking live broadcasts across the world. It is a “revolution” which aims to overthrow Hong Kong’s governance paradigm. The question is, what next?
Ironically, the concept of law and order is asymmetric for the pro-democracy camp, the Civil Human Rights Front and their media allies. One of the side effects is that the flood of sympathy for previous violence against police or passers-by with different opinions may have driven Yuen Long citizens to achieve their own justice by mirroring protester violence, which I disagree with, and condemn equally. Even as news of the latest violence broke, a pro-establishment lawmaker’s office was vandalised by protesters. Once again, a vicious circle.
It has been seven weeks since the eruption of the anti-extradition protests. Beijing has been largely quiet, except for the exchange of position statements on the foreign affairs front, leaving the Hong Kong government to handle the situation. However, a new battlefront, created by radical protesters who audaciously besieged the Beijing liaison office and defaced China’s national emblem, might push Beijing to weigh in.
Let us pray that Hong Kong does not fall into anarchy, which would jeopardise the “one country, two systems” paradigm.
Qiwei Weng, West Kowloon
EU wrong to criticise handling of protests
The European Union certainly has some gall, criticising our police and government policies (“EU adopts Hong Kong motion Beijing says is full of ‘ignorance and prejudice’”, July 18)! They are not party to the Sino-British Joint Declaration. More importantly, while somewhat belatedly, the chief executive has listened to the people and declared the extradition bill “dead”.
Having won this significant concession, the youngsters of Hong Kong decided they wanted her to resign. Taking it further, they demand full democracy, something that Hong Kong has never had, and something that they fully know will not be allowed by China. I wonder what part of “one country” the protesters fail to comprehend?
Finally, suspending the sale of anti-riot equipment to our police is laughable. Hong Kong has one of the most disciplined police forces in the world. The police allowed three months of road blocks by the “umbrella movement”. Occupy Wall Street was cleared within two weeks in New York.
This time, the youngsters felt emboldened by the government backing down on the extradition bill, and became violent. Police have suffered serious injuries. Not to mention the sacking of the Legislative Council building, which the police did not stop, to prevent injury to the protesters and themselves.
Is the EU blind to the actions of the French police against the “yellow vest” protesters in Paris? Where was the call then for suspending equipment sales to the French police? The bleeding-heart leftists in the European Parliament would do well to deal with their own problems, such as immigration tensions, a failing, debt-ridden economy, the slow dying of free speech and the rise of fascism.
George Forrai, Mid-Levels
Two victims of the brutal mob violence seen in Yuen Long MTR station late on July 21, when a 100-strong mob in white T-shirts carrying sticks and metal rods attacked commuters returning home. The mob especially targeted those wearing black, the colour preferred by Hong Kong protesters. Photo: Handout
If violence is no solution, gangsters do not deserve to be heard
The president and vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, Zhang Xiang, echoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, wrote in an email to all students and staff that “violence is never, never a solution”. Regrettably, he omitted to condemn specifically the violence in Yuen Long MTR station on July 21. The beating up of passers-by was a criminal and terrorist act that warrants swift and strong police action, and unequivocal and vociferous public condemnation. Instead, Zhang highlighted worries about the safety of students and Hong Kong people, and appealed to all parties to resolve differences in a respectful manner. Surely we should not fear the gangsters and negotiate with them?
