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China Briefing | This is not alarmist talk: Hong Kong is heading for a breakdown in law and order
- A growing crisis of confidence in law enforcement has seen questions raised about how long police can function effectively if violent protests continue
- Anger among police has reached boiling point as officers feel blame has been pinned on them while radical protesters are glorified
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Why you can trust SCMP
Last week in Hong Kong, a well-respected businessman told me that as the city’s recent cycle of violence escalated, he had started receiving emails from overseas friends asking about his well-being and expressing concerns about the city’s overall safety.
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On Tuesday, Charles Li Xiaojia, chief executive of stock market operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, told reporters international investors had voiced concerns about the fallout from the protests against the now-defunct extradition bill. Fortunately, no one had yet voted with their feet by leaving Hong Kong, he added.
Alas, that may change as the city braces for more violent protests in the coming weeks and months, particularly if last Sunday is any indication and political crisis cannot be averted.
The scenes involving protesters and police in the Sha Tin mall on Sunday night were the latest to dominate the news – in Hong Kong and abroad. Footage purporting to show excessive use of force by police or the brutal nature of the protesters, including one clip claiming to show an officer’s finger being bitten off, went viral on social media.
If such scenes continue – and the odds are they will – Hong Kong could witness a serious breakdown in law and order, which has been one of the fundamental cornerstones of the city’s success.
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