Opinion | Hong Kong’s spiral of violence needs to end, for the sake of our young people and our future

The two police shootings of teenagers are a wake-up call to stop the violence and protect our young people. Hong Kong has changed irrevocably. The government needs to respond to demands and make fundamental changes or the violence will linger for a long time

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A young protester is held down by a police officer in Wong Tai Sin following scuffles during a mass rally on October 1. Photo: James Wendlinger

Published: 12:00pm, 10 Oct 2019Updated: 7:15pm, 10 Oct 2019

It has been more than 100 days since Hong Kong entered a social crisis, initially caused by attempts to pass an extradition bill, and now characterised by clashes between protesters and police that have spread across the city.

The situation is increasingly chaotic and appears to be spiralling out of control. There are petrol bombs and violent clashes between police and demonstrators, and fighting among demonstrators themselves.

The rampages have turned Hong Kong into a war zone. This is not the Hong Kong we used to be, nor the Hong Kong we like. Certainly, it is not in the best interests of anyone except the few looking to take advantage of the chaos.

The near-fatal shooting of an 18-year-old student on October 1, and another of a 14-year-old on October 4 should be a wake-up call to everyone to stop the violence and protect our youth. The latest ban on wearing masks at protests might deter some protesters. However, it is the government’s responsibility to genuinely address the ills in our society.

What makes these young people so angry that they are driven to violence across the city? There are activities across the community that express sympathy and support for these young people. But I would argue that these may have the unintended consequence of encouraging more young people to take up destructive behaviours that bear no fruit.

At the same time, the government could use these violent behaviours as an excuse to condone the excessive use of force by some in the police, and to stand firm in refusing to launch an independent inquiry.