I am writing to praise the police for their prompt action in
suspending the officer who drove his motorbike into a crowd of protesters multiple times. This must be followed up by a full, impartial investigation into the incident.
Public trust in the police
has suffered greatly in recent months, and this feels like the first time police have allowed for the possibility that an officer might have overstepped the mark. This could be the first step towards rebuilding trust and confidence in the police, if it is followed by suspensions of officers involved in other controversial incidents.
It is important the public believe that officers know what minimal force is. It is essential that the police do not deploy lethal force against unarmed people, that they know and adhere to the minimum range, acceptable target and
indoor-use restrictions on less-lethal weapons, that they know the difference between a verbal argument and physical or chemical assault, that they understand their oath to serve “without fear of or favour to any person and with malice or ill will toward none” and that their spokespeople do not lie or mislead the press and public in press conferences.
Instead, there is credible video evidence to the contrary. Only a full, impartial investigation can determine the facts. Officers who are exonerated can be reinstated into a police force that can regain public trust.
It is not just the police who must work on regaining the public trust, the government must too. The
nearly 2 million people who peacefully marched at the start of this conflict have not disappeared. Some of them may have turned more radical when the government turned a deaf ear to reason; most are probably quietly horrified by the increasing violence Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has allowed, or even encouraged, by her missteps and
lack of concern for ordinary people.
She must reach out to them and understand their concerns. Her
dialogue forum was a reasonable start, but turned into a disaster when people lost their jobs after speaking, so her next attempt will be more difficult. It is still necessary.
Allan Dyer, Wong Chuk Hang
People will turn against protesters? Think again
I live in Tai Po, next to Science Park. After
the roadblock went up, life here became much more complicated. Commuting to Central was next to impossible, and even finding food could be a challenge.
I’ve talked with many people – other local residents and some commuters who had been stranded for hours after the roadblocks first went up. Yet, I have not spoken to a single person that blames the protesters. Every single person blames the government or the police.
The protesters have been telling us they’re going to do this for nearly half a year. Yet, the government has offered nothing other than condescension and insult. The
mask law is a joke. It would be funny if things weren’t so serious.
The police are being sent out to do the impossible every night, exhausting and demoralising them. The police are in no position to resolve a political conflict. It will take years to repair the damage this government has done to its police force.
The government’s approach has been guided by just one single shallow and immature idea – compromise will encourage more demands. But government is, by definition, compromise.
If someone tells you they’re going to do something for half a year, and you stubbornly refuse to compromise or work with them, then, when they follow through, you own the consequences of your decision.
The government is delusional if it believes people will turn against the protesters as life gets more difficult. People will just get more angry with the government. In its stubbornness, the government owns this mess.
Tao Stein, Tai Po
