Hong Kong’s not dead – yet. But Carrie Lam and her cabinet must act

If Hong Kong is to survive this ordeal, the protesters must avoid provocative acts that make crackdowns more likely

The SAR government is most responsible for the escalation, though, through its misguided bill and recent inaction

Reading Time:4 minutes

Published: 9:00am, 26 Jul 2019Updated: 3:18pm, 26 Jul 2019

The death of Hong Kong has been forecast many times, but the people of this vibrant and spirited city have always proved the doubters wrong. In recent weeks, however, even the most optimistic have started to fear Hong Kong is in terminal decline. So many qualities which make the city special have been undermined.

Protests are daily occurrences. Violent clashes with police have become the norm. The legislature has been ransacked, police headquarters pelted with eggs and Beijing’s liaison office daubed with graffiti. Most disturbing of all was the brutal, organised attack by stick-wielding assailants on protesters and passengers at Yuen Long MTR station last weekend, leaving 45 injured. This is not the Hong Kong we know.

The impact of these events, which began with peaceful mass protests against the government’s misconceived plans for an extradition bill last month, has been dramatic. Hong Kong’s long-held reputation for the maintenance of law and order has been shattered. Its status as one of the world’s safest cities has, at least temporarily, been lost. Tolerance is in short supply as the divisions in society deepen.

Meanwhile, the government, traditionally viewed as efficient and pragmatic, appears to have no answers. It is fiddling while Rome burns.

There is, however, still time for Hong Kong to show its characteristic survival instincts. With another potentially explosive protest planned for Yuen Long on Saturday, there is a need for all parties to reflect on how they should proceed.

The protesters are smart and well-organised. They may lack leaders, but they are well-prepared. Their flexible tactics have enabled them, at times, to outflank the police. Peaceful demonstrations attended by hundreds of thousands have often ended in more extreme action by a minority. One unusual feature has been that the majority have lent their support to such actions. They feel the same frustrations as the young activists on the front line.

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