LettersHong Kong police can surely put down the violent protest mobs. Why aren’t they?

I refer to “Stand with Hong Kong police” (October 27). I am an Canadian expat who has lived in Hong Kong for the last 14 years. The other night in Causeway Bay, the police were out in force. Passing by these bands of uniformed officers, shoppers wore looks of fear and loathing and gave them a wide berth.

It was disturbing to see this, when not long ago a local police presence had been welcomed. The police have taken it upon themselves to suppress peaceful protests, they even seemingly assault disorganised groups of unaligned people, or members of the press, without provocation other than that they are there.

Officers have been resorting to tear gas, pepper spray and physical assault with batons, brutalising people to prevent them from exercising rights guaranteed under the Basic Law.

Having said that, if you pull a weapon on, or brandish a petrol bomb at, a Canadian police officer, never mind an American officer, you are likely to be killed. Violence of the kind seen recently in Hong Kong would simply not be tolerated. Whatever force required would be used to curb the violence as a matter of routine.