Black terror: The real threat to freedom in Hong Kong

Gu's footage "enraged" protesters. They threatened him with malicious comments and messages. Some even wrote they had "daggers ready."

Freedom of speech? Yes, for protesters and those with identical views only. But the answer is no for anyone else.

Radical protesters have plastered numerous pieces of graffiti, posters and leaflets on public buildings and shop fronts. Some urged school children to walk out of class, others carried signs with slander, curses and degrading insults.

In Hong Kong these days, even the simple act of cleaning the graffiti and posters takes considerable courage. Radicals call them "Lennon Walls" and gangs beat people who dare to remove them.

Tolerance, at the very least patience and willingness to listen to other people's opinion, is not in their vocabulary.

Even colors of clothing have political meaning in their eyes. When a large group of black-clad rioters swarms the street, people wearing other colors may be in trouble, especially those in white -- the opposite of black, or blue -- the color of police shirts.