Hong Kong pro-establishment lawmakers jointly condemned
their opposition counterparts on Monday, accusing the opposition camp of
condoning and glorifying acts of violence that have resulted in the arrests of
many young people.
Martin Liao Cheung-kong, the convener of the
pro-establishment legislative councilors, said politicians in the opposition
camp have been upfront with their support and encouragement of violence and
illegal activities. However, the unwary young protesters have to pay a heavy
price for their behavior, while their cheerleaders largely remain at a safe
distance beyond the reach of the law, he added.
Martin Liao Cheung-kong, the convener of the pro-establishment legislative councilors, said politicians in the opposition camp have been upfront with their support and encouragement of violence and illegal activities
Martin Liao Cheung-kong, convener of the pro-establishment legislative councilors
As of March, about 40 percent of the 7,854 people arrested
in violent protests since June were students. A total of 151 underage suspects
have been prosecuted, police said. In a recent case, two Hong Kong minors were
charged with fatally hitting a man on the head with a thrown brick during a
clash in November between anti-government protesters and neighborhood
residents.
During the months of chaos throughout the city, opposition
lawmakers were frequently seen by the protesters’ side in confrontations
between police and protesters, but they have rarely been seen stopping the
militants from wreaking havoc.
Referring to protesters who were jailed for breaking laws,
opposition lawmaker Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu once said, “Having a criminal record
would make a more brilliant life.”
Liao concluded that the violent crimes committed by young
people will ultimately harm the entire Hong Kong community, and he urged all
sectors of society to renounce opposition lawmakers’ rhetoric that incites or
promotes violence.
At the same occasion, lawmaker and New People’s Party
Chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said that professionals in law or education
who have used their positions to “poison” young people’s minds were also to be
blamed. She cited the example of some university lecturers who have planted
hatred for their own country in young people’s minds.
Lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan said that the
anti-government media should also bear the responsibility of leading young
people astray by glorifying violence and giving young people the wrong
impression that engaging in illegal and violent behavior is a sign of courage
and commitment.
The duo’s criticism came as Police Commissioner Chris Tang
Ping-keung issued a letter to Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, president of the
Education University of Hong Kong, filing a complaint about malicious remarks
against the force made by a lecturer at the university.
Sam Choi Chun-wai, a lecturer at the Department of Asian and
Policy Studies at the university, blasted the police for their handling of
hardcore radicals’ occupation of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His
remarks were broadcast in a radio program at Radio Television Hong Kong on Nov
20, while the occupation was ongoing.
Choi’s remarks were unfair to the police and could damage the force’s reputation, Tsang wrote, citing a ruling of the Communication Authority made on the same program on April 20. The authority ruled that the program had failed to provide accurate, fair, and factual information and “seriously warned” RTHK about the offense.
