Letters | Hong Kong may be seen as dystopian city after brutal mob attack with no police in sight. But doomed? Never

The delay in the arrival of the police has deepened the public’s distrust of the force and the government

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Men in white T-shirts on the rampage at Yuen Long MTR station on June 21. Photo: Handout

Published: 6:05am, 27 Jul 2019Updated: 6:05am, 27 Jul 2019

“Five minutes from now, there will be no more police in the whole of Hong Kong,” says a constable in Bodyguards and Assassins – a film I watched 10 years ago. Though I have mostly forgotten the plot, this particular scene echoes the recent absence of the police at a moment when people were in dire need of protection.

The brutal attack on helpless people at Yuen Long MTR station by a mob armed with metal rods and sticks on June 21 defied belief. It was the darkest moment Hong Kong has ever experienced, with gangsters publicly challenging the bottom line of civil society. Breaking into the MTR station after it had been locked down, attacking innocent people and unleashing chaos were acts of terrorism.

That night caused me and many others to have dystopian visions. Not only because of the violent behaviour displayed, but also because of the disappearance of the Hong Kong police. The police failed to help those in need. Rumours about the police collaborating with triads continue to swirl.

The distrust between the public and police is deepening, in keeping with the now hostile relationship between citizens and the government. It is essential for the government and the police to truly reassure the panicked public.

Condescending niceties are easy to utter but Hongkongers are not fools. The only way to unite the city and move forward is for people to not only have their opinions heard by the top brass but to see them acted upon. Using violence to silence protesters is unwise.