The pro-establishment camp was decimated in the district council elections. Common sense suggests an unresponsive government and an intransigent Beijing led to the brutal defeat. About two weeks before the election, the heated confrontation between protesters and police at Chinese University cut off all rail traffic and most vehicular traffic on Tolo Highway. Tai Po was isolated from the rest of Hong Kong and commuters spent hours in long queues and traffic jams. Despite the inconveniences, Tai Po voters kicked out all the pro-establishment incumbents, with the pro-democracy camp taking all 19 seats up for grabs in the district. To the government’s dismay, the mayhem could not save its allies. Why? Initially, Tai Po was a relatively peaceful area, with only sporadic conflict. However, since October, police have taken a more high-handed approach to dealing with vandalism against allegedly “red” restaurants. Instead of sending plainclothes officers to collect evidence, riot police were stationed around shopping malls to stop and search people. When infuriated residents began to vent their anger on police officers, the police responded by arresting people and sometimes pursuing targets into malls. Thereafter, protest militancy grew and there was a surge in roadblocks, arson and petrol bombs. Tai Po became one of the most tear-gassed districts. Indeed, on the streets and at the ballot box, the mobilisation of Tai Po residents is evident. The government can praise police officers at every turn but the harsh reality is clear to all. The cost of unleashing police officers to defuse a political crisis has already outweighed its effectiveness. Police heavy-handedness failed to deter radicals and instead radicalised the community. Pan-democrats’ share of the popular vote tells the real story There is no silent majority tired of disruptions and chaos. Public opinion is firmly on the protesters’ side. Except lip service paid by our lame-duck government to police tactics, officers have no political cover for their methods. They have become part of the problem and can defend themselves only with brute force. The security force is overstretched, detested and headed for a bloody showdown. No wonder Alex Lo, a Post columnist and usually “ a big fan of the police ”, proposes that the government meet at least some of the protesters’ demands in a reasonable manner. I hope that the authorities will take his advice before it is too late. Patrick Cheng, Tai Po