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Letters | The truth about Hong Kong protest violence rarely seen in Western media coverage
- Reports in the international press rarely highlight Hong Kong’s delay in enacting national security legislation or the violence perpetrated by protesters
I used to think fake news was just a figment of Donald Trump’s imagination. I am not so sure now. The headlines and fanfare on international media in recent days would make one think the tanks were already rolling down Pedder Street.
The responsibility to enact a national security law was spelt out in the Basic Law and it should have been clear what would ultimately happen if Hong Kong didn’t get there on its own. Some 23 years on, Beijing has perhaps understandably had enough and, frankly, so have many of us in Hong Kong.
We are not Communist Party-paid trolls nor do we even support the party, but we recognise the right of a country to protect its territory.
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Hong Kong freedoms will not be eroded by Beijing’s national security law, Carrie Lam says
Hong Kong freedoms will not be eroded by Beijing’s national security law, Carrie Lam says
It is worth noting that the US, whose flag the protesters love to wave, has over 20 statues related to national security. But they are a democracy, you cry? So why then is whistle-blower Edward Snowden in Russia?
No meaningful international stories in recent days have spelt out the violence that took place over the weekend, or the bombs discovered or that actually exploded in Hong Kong these past months. The images used with stories were of police armed to the teeth, with no context.
I also didn’t see photographs in the Western media of the mob-like beatings of people who tried to remove barricades or simply had a differing opinion, by protesters who say they are fighting for democracy.
With an economy tanking, the last thing Hong Kong needs is to come to a standstill again, with shops closed and tourists staying away.
International media have a duty to better inform the world about Hong Kong, but sadly consistently tell only one side of the story.
James Griffiths, Kennedy Town
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