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Hong Kong district council election
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An HSBC branch is vandalised by protesters in Mong Kok on Christmas Day. HSBC became a target after Hong Kong police froze crowdfunded capital from a corporate account held by Spark Alliance HK, a non-profit organisation set up in 2016 to help protesters. Photo: May Tse
OpinionLetters

Letters | No glory in violent Hong Kong protests, and no future for city if the cycle can’t be stopped

  • The so-called fair, open and transparent district council elections did not advance freedoms. They only gave the violent mob a mandate to suppress the freedoms of others
Hong Kong district council election
Letters
Letters
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I refer to the letter from Professor C.K. Woo of the Education University of Hong Kong (“Why democracy matters in Hong Kong: eight lessons from the district council elections”, December 2).

I strongly dispute his assertion that a “fair and open election” was held on November 24. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although there was a temporary lull in violence just before the elections, the district offices of many pro-establishment district councillors and candidates were vandalised in the run-up to the elections – with some set on fire several times.

Many candidates were harassed so intensely that they could not go out to canvass votes. Some had to call in the police for protection, after having been harangued and practically incarcerated in their offices for hours.

Many volunteers and supporters were so cowed by the “black terror” that they dared not help in canvassing or venture out to vote.

The election banner of a pro-establishment lawmaker lies on the street after being torn down by anti-government protesters, in Kowloon Tong on November 14. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
There were serious flaws in the polling arrangements. The elderly and those with disabilities had to wait for hours in the sun before they could vote. Some polling stations made special arrangements for them. Some did not. That was very unfair to many elderly people who dropped out after queuing for hours.

The biggest irony is that the polling outcomes did not bring peace. Violent protests returned to the city the following weekend and have continued over the Christmas holidays.

Pro-Beijing camp decries vandalism, harassment ahead of district polls

Shops, restaurants and other business establishments have been vandalised again. On December 1, an innocent bystander who tried to clear road blockages was severely injured when a protester hit his head with a hard object. Citizens who disagreed with the rioters were again viciously attacked.

Last month’s district council elections only served to legitimise street violence and the doctrine that “might is right”. Whoever disagreed with the masses risked being heckled or beaten up. The so-called fair, open and transparent elections did not advance freedoms. They only gave the violent mob a mandate to suppress the freedoms of others.

There is no glory in what the violent protesters did, and no future for Hong Kong if the serial protests and violence cannot be stopped.

I hope Professor Woo would refrain from painting a false, romantic vision of free and fair elections in Hong Kong to his students. Young people must not be guided into believing that their rights and freedoms have been suppressed. We are freer than many Western democracies in many ways.

Regina Ip, member, Legislative Council

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