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Riot police arrive after protesters start a fire at the exit to Wan Chai MTR station and vandalise public property in Hong Kong on September 29. Police fired tear gas on the day in the Causeway Bay, after a large crowd of protesters ignored warnings to disperse. Photo: AP

Letters | Hong Kong protesters have a choice: destroy the government and their own freedoms, or let peace and ‘two systems’ prevail

  • Prolonged violent unrest and biased media coverage of police operations risk bringing about what protesters fear the most
  • In the worst case, Hong Kong will be completely integrated into China. The world will protest for a while and then move on, as it did in the case of Crimea
I understand that the Hong Kong government badly misjudged the public mood, awakening the “sleeping tiger” seeking universal suffrage. This tiger is afraid of losing its freedom under “one country, two systems”. Meanwhile, our young “tigers” are angry about the deteriorating quality of their lives.
But if the youngsters really choose a violent revolution, they may lose the freedoms they enjoy today. Hong Kong is a part of China and in the worst case it will be completely integrated into the country – the world will protest for a while and then move on. We are seeing this right now with the annexation of Crimea by Russia.
The movement may succeed in creating economic chaos but this is no route to success. Hong Kong represents less than 3 per cent of the Chinese economy; losses in Hong Kong are irrelevant to China compared to the risk of losing control of a part of the country. The Hong Kong people will bear the cost.
The media in the West is not helping either. Reports about protesters’ violent acts such as throwing bricks, petrol bombs, destroying property, storming buildings, attacking police stations and police officers, usually – misleadingly – bear a headline highlighting police use of tear gas. The police have taken such measures only in response to protesters’ violent acts, to defend public safety and order or even in self-defence.
Inciting the youngsters to keep up the violence to seek system change is irresponsible, and may provoke a strong reaction from the local government and Beijing to restore public order.

I fully support the Hong Kong government and Beijing in taking these measures. Freedom and order have to be defended.

Even in Europe, we don’t allow violence in the pursuit of political goals. Violent behaviour, destroying public property, attacking police officers who are only doing their duty on behalf of all of us is simply wrong, morally and legally. Our city needs to defend itself against these destructive elements – and I have no doubt it will. Shame on those who hide behind the misguided youngsters and support them in their violent actions.

Beijing warns of ‘signs of terrorism’ in violent unrest in Hong Kong

The government has got the message that the extradition bill should not be implemented. It will have to do much better to address the affordable housing issue, especially as the population keeps growing. Building around 15,000 new public housing units each year is simply not enough.
But we need to have a functioning government to do that. The choice before our vandalising youngsters is whether this government will be part of “one country, two systems” with the freedoms we enjoy today, or a new model with more control and less freedom for all of us.

Hong Kong was a part of Britain for 150 years, with nothing close to full democracy, and is now a part of China, under a different system. Change has to come peacefully if it is to have the outcome of universal suffrage that the protest movement desires.

Dr Stefan Matzinger, Central

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