Hong Kong has entered uncharted waters in terms of protest chaos and violence, with the storming and takeover of the Legislative Council building by mostly young activists opposing the now-suspended extradition bill. While hundreds of thousands marched peacefully, what set yesterday apart from previous July 1 protests was the unprecedented violence perpetrated by radicals who spent most of the day besieging Legco while police stood by, although they were preparing for action at night. After using makeshift battering rams to smash holes in the glass front, protesters forced their way into the legislature and took over for the first time in the city’s history, celebrating their shocking actions as a victory against the government. While this calls for a fundamental rethink of strategy by both the local and central governments to end the violence and move the city forward, cool heads must prevail to avoid further clashes and damage to both public property and the city’s reputation. Observers said the latest mass rally did not seem as big as the two held previously, but whatever the figure it was still a sizeable protest that followed our much cherished way of expressing opinion in a peaceful and lawful manner. It was in stark contrast to those who, on a sad day for Hong Kong, hurled corrosive substances at police and vandalised the legislature. Earlier, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made her first public appearance since apologising two weeks ago for her poor handling of the bill. Embarrassingly, she attended celebrations that had been scaled down substantially, singing the national anthem to an indoor screen with images of the flag-raising ceremony taking place outside. She pledged to reform her governance style; improve communication with lawmakers across the political spectrum and those from all walks of life, especially the young; and better assess and coordinate policies. Police clear protesters occupying Legco after day of violence and chaos However, the protests were not only about the bill and Lam’s governance, but also the way the city was moving under its “one country, two systems” formula. While it has received more economic favours from Beijing, the latter’s grip on the political front has also tightened. But the truth is Hong Kong is not just an economic city, and it appears the carrot-and-stick approach does not go down well with the people. Therefore a change seems inevitable. Much has been said about overhauling the governance system and the matter of universal suffrage cannot be avoided indefinitely. But before any of that and above all, the most immediate and demanding task at hand for both the government and police is to restore order and put a stop to the chaos. Hong Kong’s future hinges on it.