Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong protests
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Police and protesters clash in Tsuen Wan on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong protesters rotate tactics between radical and restrained, keeping city guessing

  • Police fired gunshot and deploy one of the force’s water cannons – both were firsts after months of protest
  • Many wonder which protest movement – the restrained or the radical – will show up at big march planned for Saturday

The return of violence to the streets of Hong Kong has analysts observing the protest movement’s rotation of violence and peaceful tactics and suggesting that the government just missed its best chance yet to start a dialogue with the demonstrators.

The police fired a gunshot on Sunday and deployed two of the force’s much-discussed water cannons – both were firsts after months of escalating turmoil, carnage and chaos.

In more ugly scenes of violence, all hopes were dashed that the movement would remain peaceful after eight days without tear gas. As analysts observed, the day’s unrest proved that violence is becoming all-too-common – and peace, it seems, an aberration. Now, many are wondering which protest movement – the restrained or the radical – would show up at the next big march planned for Saturday.

Optimism for a period of calm had been high since an estimated 1.7 million people gathered in a peaceful rally on August 18. In hindsight, it was naive to believe the respite would last, some note. Others said an opportunity had been lost.
A policeman points a weapon during a protest on Sunday. Hong Kong police also rolled out a water cannon for the first time. Photo: AP

“The government has to understand that it is difficult to separate the peaceful protesters and establish a dialogue with them,” said Edmund Cheng Wai, a political scientist at Baptist University. “It was not proactive enough given the rare peaceful weekend after August 18.”

Cheng said radical protesters continued to received strong support. He cited a viral video showing protesters with masks and riot gear being greeted by loud applause from hundreds of residents on Sunday when they passed by New Town Plaza in Sha Tin.

Why a Hong Kong police officer fired his gun skyward during protest

“Radical protesters and peaceful, rational and non-violent protesters are two sides of the same coin in this movement,” Cheng said. “The rotation of these two tactics has been evident for months.”

After the peaceful August 18 rally, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor did not respond directly to the protesters’ five demands, including a complete withdrawal of the bill and setting up an independent investigation into alleged police brutality.

Lam instead proposed forming a “platform for dialogue” and met 19 senior city leaders on Saturday at Government House to brainstorm. Cheng said the government moved too slow and provided no blueprint for such a platform, allowing a return to aggressive tactics by the radical wing of the anti-government camp.
Ma Ngok, a political scientist at Chinese University, said the alternating cycle of peace and violence would continue, given the government’s inaction. He also cited the simmering grievances that erupted after the MTR’s interruption of train services and Cathay Pacific’s sacking of workers linked to the protests.
Petrol bombs are thrown by anti-government protesters in Tsuen Wan after a march on Sunday. Photo: Sam Tsang

He said the protesters were using specific tactics for different protests, with marches held by the Civil Human Rights Front drawing peaceful protesters while the district marches were generally allowed to descend into violence.

Ma predicted that public opinion would become increasingly polarised between the peaceful and radical camps of the protesters, especially with pro-establishment lawmakers reminding the public about the escalation of violence.

Benny Tai Yiu-ting, who was granted bail after serving about three months in jail for co-founding the Occupy movement in 2014, shared a similar opinion on a Monday radio programme.

Hong Kong police officers’ ‘relatives’ march to demand inquiry into crisis

“As long as the peaceful protesters fail to achieve their demands, there is support for radical actions. This is the conclusion of scholars around the world,” Tai said.

Tai gave a rare sympathetic nod to the police, describing the force as sandwiched between the city’s leaders and the public and under enormous pressure. He said he would not call the police “black cops” as many protesters do.

Benny Tai at the High Court on August 15 after serving three months of 16-month sentence. Photo: Nora Tam

It will not be a long wait to see which tactic the protesters use next. The front has planned a march on Saturday from Central to Beijing’s liaison office in Sai Ying Pun.

The date, August 31, marks the fifth anniversary of Beijing’s stringent “831 Decision” on Hong Kong’s democratic reforms. Cheng and Ma said the tone of the demonstration would be influenced by a range of uncertainties, including future comments by Lam and the tactics of the police force.

Hong Kong police accused of locking up onlookers at protests

Bonnie Leung Wing-man, the front’s deputy convenor, said the police should not use what happened on Sunday as an excuse to ban their march. She said the firing of a gunshot – as a warning – was proof that the police had lost control more than the protesters.

Leung said she would not condemn the protesters actions on Sunday, but would ask them to exercise restraint going forward.

“I’m just worried and I don’t want anyone to be injured. When the world sees clashes in Hong Kong, people wonder whether such actions were necessary,” she said.

Felix Chung Kwok-pan, leader of the Liberal Party, on Monday urged Lam to fully withdraw the now-abandoned extradition bill and set up an inquiry into the turmoil as a way to demonstrate sincere wish for dialogue in the city.

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, chair of the New People’s Party and an executive councillor, said the government would have acted if it found it acceptable to back down. She instead called on Lam to better explain why the government could not respond to the five demands.

Additional reporting by Tony Cheung

Post