Call for caution over fake news, as online claims emerge of pro-democracy figures leaving Hong Kong due to fears of military crackdown

Hong Kong lawmakers and commentators have called for caution over fake news after online claims emerged of several pro-democracy figures leaving the city because they feared a Chinese military crackdown.

On Friday a post on online forum discuss.com.hk stated that pan-democratic lawmakers Claudia Mo Man-ching and Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, as well as ousted legislator Nathan Law Kwun-chung and media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying had “fled” the city.

“When the Chinese army is coming, of course the pan-democrats will flee. Be careful, as Mo and Law have left suddenly ... Lai and Yeung are not in Hong Kong either,” the anonymous post read.

Lai is the founder of media giant Next Digital and Apple Daily newspaper, which is published in Hong Kong and Taiwan and known for its pro-democracy stance and colour reporting.

On mainland Chinese blogging platform Weibo, a user called “Siu Ting Lam” also posted several pictures showing Lai in the business class compartment of a plane.

“He fears that the People’s Liberation Army is coming, so he has left,” the user wrote.

Academic advises government to change tactics in battle against fake news

Mo, Yeung and Law had earlier explained on Facebook that they were leaving because of personal or business reasons, while a source close to Lai said the media tycoon was still in the city.

Yeung is known to be in the United States with fellow member Dennis Kwok of the Civic Party to meet officials, congressmen and business leaders to discuss the political unrest rocking Hong Kong.

The two lawmakers are expected to take part in a four-day US-Hong Kong dialogue in Montana next week. Pan-democrats James To Kun-sun and Ip Kin-yuen, as well as pro-establishment lawmakers Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and Felix Chung Kwok-pan are also set to join the programme.

Law announced on Facebook earlier this week that he had arrived in the US to begin a one-year master’s programme at Yale University this autumn, while Mo also wrote on her page that she was going away for about 10 days for her son’s wedding.

Liberal Party leader Felix Chung Kwok-pan said it was regrettable that fake news had emerged from supporters of both the pro-democracy and pro-Beijing camp.

“Fake news is everywhere ... and we really have to analyse and judge carefully,” he warned.

Chung also said any lawmaker or official’s presence in the city would do little to change the political climate.

Another pro-establishment lawmaker, Ben Chan Han-pan, said it was easy for fake information to emerge when different sides were running out of ideas on how to end the civil unrest.

“Pro-establishment lawmakers have also been travelling abroad ... but when pan-democrats are not helping to calm things down, no wonder fake news keeps popping up,” he said.

Rumours and fake news shared online risk further polarising Hong Kong

Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai noted that just like internet users, mainland authorities had also warned Hongkongers of a military crackdown.

He added that it was normal for lawmakers and officials to go abroad for personal reasons during the legislature’s summer break.

“The most important person to discuss is Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, and what is she going to do so that public order can be restored,” he said.

Chinese University political scientist Ma Ngok said misinformation was always present since the protests erupted in June, and online users who did not fact-check only made matters worse.

“Law and Mo are not the major figures in this movement. A normal person would find it reasonable for Law to study abroad and for Mo to attend her son’s wedding,” Ma added.