The rule of law must always prevail
Play
A man charged with assaulting police officers and obstructing police during the Mong Kok riot in Hong Kong in the small hours of the day after the Chinese New Year in February was found guilty in the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday.
He was sentenced to nine months of immediate inprisonment and denied bail while waiting to lodge an appeal against the ruling. This is the first conviction out of more than a dozen Mong Kok riot participants under similar charges. It is no doubt a stern warning to those who may want to resort to violence for political gain. It is also a reminder that Hong Kong’s rule of law really works.
Chan Pak-yeung, the man found guilty as charged, is a member of Civic Passion, a radical political group that has not missed a violent protest since it was founded. As expected, some members of this group gathered outside the
magistracy with banners and
signs in support of their comrade on trial.
The presiding judge advised Chan and the public never to defy the law, even though there is no guarantee that radical groups like the Civic Passion will ever heed such calls. It is no secret that several groups, including Civic Passion, are used to confronting police officers trying to maintain order during protests.
Former radical lawmaker Raymond Wong Yuk-man, an ally of the Civic Passion, told reporters outside the magistracy that the sentence was absurd. The radical group will do everything to help Chan appeal, he said, which it has done many times in the past.
He may see it as another opportunity to win sympathy from the public, but is unlikely to succeed. Hong Kong does not condone anything which challenges the rule of law.
Wong should have no problem understanding that his response does nothing positive for the radical group. Indeed, it could only convince many people that the conviction and sentence are well deserved.
Wong and like-minded politicians and their followers should realise Chan’s conviction was based on hard evidence. The sentence aims to serve justice in the best interests of Hong Kong.
The sentence was ultimately the court’s decision. They can ignore warnings like this and keep challenging the rule of law if they want to, but they should not expect public sympathy when they are found guilty.
