Justice served where it is due
The High Court on Wednesday handed down sentences on 16 individuals, including Joshua Wong Chi-fung — who was one of the leaders of the illegal “Occupy Central” movement in 2014 and many similar activities subsequently. The 16 were found in contempt of court for defying a court injunction to clear out a protest site at the end of the illegal campaign. Wong is one of those who pleaded guilty and received three months in prison without bail. He had already been given a six-month prison term last year for illegal assembly over his leading of the storming of the Central Government Complex, a prelude to the 79-day “Occupy” blockade of several busy streets and other public spaces.
Hong Kong society sees the rule of law as one of its core values and holds the judiciary in very high regard for its integrity and professionalism in general. That is why the great majority of local residents refused to support or join the illegal “Occupy” movement. And they have largely approved the way the Department of Justice and local courts have handled related cases, even though many of them would have liked to see more of the illegal protest leaders prosecuted for deliberately breaking Hong Kong law. There is little doubt such politically motivated illegal acts have posed a tough challenge to the rule of law and will continue in the future. Therefore all Hong Kong residents, particularly the younger generation, are strongly advised not to follow the likes of Wong at the expense of Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, but most of all its rule of law.
It came as no surprise that “Occupy” supporters here and overseas and its masterminds, as well as the “star” participants, collectively cried foul over all the related court cases so far, especially those involving the likes of Wong. After all, the illegal campaign received generous help from the usual foreign suspects all the way and will no doubt continue in the foreseeable future. The likes of Wong could not have ended up where they are now without all the encouragement and help from those foreign forces. They have proved time and again in the past 20 years that their regard for Hong Kong’s rule of law is just as dispensable as those who willingly act as their pawns. Thankfully, Hong Kong society as a whole has been vigilant enough not to fall for their hypocrisy.
Let’s not forget that “Occupy” also brought separatism to prominence and has in a way allowed “pro-independence” groups to hold opposition parties hostage ever since. Given the constitutional reality that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China, it is safe to say that separatist forces will eventually come to a dead end. All Hong Kong residents must keep in mind that the Chinese nation of 1.3 billion will never tolerate any attempt to sabotage its unity or obstruct its efforts to achieve its great rejuvenation and national reunification. As for those (and particularly) young people who have been hoodwinked into working for separatism, it is not too late to save themselves from being sacrificed for a doomed cause.