LettersHong Kong protesters and critics say city’s freedoms are being eroded. How exactly?

The people of Hong Kong enjoy greater safety, judicial integrity and protection of human rights than those in many Asian democracies

US criticism of the Hong Kong government and police rings hollow in the face of America’s record of bombing other countries and human rights abuses

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A protester takes part in a rally to petition the US Congress to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, in Central on September 8. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 8:05am, 5 Nov 2019Updated: 8:05am, 5 Nov 2019

I do not support either side in this whole protest saga – but I think the fearmongering is excessive and criticism of the government unwarranted.

Many people in Hong Kong are apprehensive that Beijing is increasingly taking away our freedoms and meddling in our affairs (“Beijing should clarify what happens to Hong Kong after 2047 to ease the fear”, October 30).

I have Japanese, South Korean and Taiwanese friends – coming from developed Asian democracies and living and working in Hong Kong – who fear their rights are being eroded here. I sincerely asked them: is there anything specific they can do in their home countries that they can’t do here in Hong Kong?

There is almost nothing; the face mask ban doesn’t apply to them unless they plan to protest. Also, there isn’t anything that they can specifically do to dictate the policy of their leaders – Japanese President Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Moon Jae-in or Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

But somehow, these friends are very critical of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and are worried about their political rights here, including universal suffrage, although many don’t even vote in their home countries.

There are other Asian democracies, including India, the Philippines and Indonesia, where the safety, judicial integrity and protection of human rights cannot compare to what we have here in Hong Kong.