HK opposition lawmakers blasted for glorifying violence

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.

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.