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Letters

I refer to the letter from Mr Stephen Davies published on November 13, “Boys with lethal toys in need of better leaders”.
Mr Davies and myself both received anti-riot drill training from the Hong Kong police during different eras and are angered by the lack of leadership from the government. There the similarities end.
His description of the 1967 riots, based on television coverage of the time, unlike the blanket media coverage of today, bears no resemblance to any historical accounts I have read. The depiction of a lightly armed police force facing down and overcoming aggressive rioters with only discipline and resolve is a travesty. It was, in fact, a joint police and military operation in which at least 50 people on both sides were killed in shootings and bomb explosions.
The Hong Kong police have never been unarmed or unarmoured. In fact, riot squads in the 1990s were equipped and trained with AR 15 rifles as a last resort to counter lethal force.
As an ex-military man, I would have expected more understanding from Mr Davies for the boys and girls on the ground, who probably are scared at times.
Richard Farrar, Sai Kung 
Police crackdown on protests is too little, too late
That the same transport mayhem and worse could happen for a fifth straight day, spoke volumes about the incompetence of the Hong Kong administration that Stephen Davies bemoaned in his letter.
It’s not as if it wasn’t predicted that foot-dragging would cause the 2014 “Occupy” saga to drag on, which it did for 79 days, and the necessary crackdown actions weren’t pointed out to the administration. The same had been done this time around for the five months of unrest, too. However, the idea of seeking the help of other disciplined services surfaced only on November 13 (“Elite prison unit to help stretched police guard key sites”).


The 80 riot control specialists from the Correctional Services will not suffice, unless the correct approach is adopted – to round up and put away the offenders en masse. The overuse of tear gas has only antagonised the lay public but is not feared by the real offenders.
Peter Lok, Heng Fa Chuen
University head did not practise what he preached
I am writing in response to the article, “President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Teng Jin-guang refuses to shake hands with students who wore masks during graduation ceremony” (October 27). In my opinion, Teng contradicted himself.
He said people should express their views in “a respectful and rational manner, embracing diversity and the perspectives of those from backgrounds different from ours, and observing the rights of others and our own responsibilities”.
The mask-wearing student, who said she was feeling unwell, bowed low to the president and walked towards him to shake his hand. However, he stepped back and gestured for her to leave the stage instead of holding out his hand.

A graduate wore a surgical mask during Polytechnic University’s graduation ceremony on Sunday. As she approached president Teng Jin-guang, he stepped back and gestured for her to leave the stage instead of shaking her hand, like he did with other graduates.

Video: Chan Ho-him pic.twitter.com/Jl4wfRowRy
— SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) October 27, 2019

I believe that the doctoral student has mastered what Teng urged. On the other hand, did the president show respect to different views?
Norine Tong, Kwai Chung


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Jimmy Lai tells court he could have fled Hong Kong in 2020 but chose to stay

Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai denies inciting others to breach the national security law

Jimmy Lai says Hong Kong ‘beyond redemption’ after national security law took effect

Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong riot police have long been armed and ready

Riot police arrive to make arrests following a rally by anti-government protesters in Central on November 13. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong protests: failure of students’ court bid to bar police from Chinese University campus has sent alarm bells ringing in academic circles. What does it mean for the future?

A police officer in riot gear chases protesters on the Chinese University campus. Photo: Winson Wong

Clashes break out between riot police and students protesting as they exchange tear gas and petrol bombs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Sha Tin. 12NOV19 SCMP / Felix Wong

No 2 Bridge

A Hong Kong that writes off young protesters is writing off its future. Not that Carrie Lam will understand

Protesters holding flowers to remember Chow Tsz-lok after a graduation ceremony was cut short at the University of Science and Technology on November 8. Chow died after falling from a car park during a police clearance operation. Photo: AP

Those blaming Hong Kong police have never felt the heat of a petrol bomb

Protesters prepare petrol bombs in the Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong on October 1, amid violent demonstrations and clashes with police across the city. Photo: AFP

Letters | Hong Kong riot police have long been armed and ready