Pro-beijing lawmaker in Hong Kong stirs fear

HONG KONG — In an ominous warning at a time when political violence has become a persistent concern in Hong Kong, Junius Ho, a pro-beijing lawmaker, cast what was widely perceived as a death threat toward an opposition lawmaker in a late-night video message.

Ho has long been known for his sharp tongue and an unforgiving view of the protesters, who have amassed huge crowds in recent months as they seek the withdrawal of a contentious extradition bill, among other demands. On Tuesday, Ho stormed off the set of RTHK, a Hong Kong broadcaster, after a contentious round-table interview he shared with Eddie Chu, a pro-democracy lawmaker who supports the protests.

On Wednesday shortly after midnight, Ho again expressed his ire at Chu, saying he had only grown more angry since the interview and that the lawmaker was “the source of evil.”

“I seriously tell you, the paths in front of you, one is a road toward life, the other one is a road toward death,” Ho said in Cantonese during the 18-minute video. “Which is the path that you choose, you need to decide.”

Chu said Wednesday he did not consider Ho’s words a death threat and would not report the video to the police, but he still felt in danger when participating in demonstrations.

“The danger I am confronting is just the same as other fellow citizens,” he told reporters.

In the RTHK appearance Tuesday, Ho pounded the table as he accused Chu of “bringing violence back into the community.” He called on Chu to disavow further protests, which Chu declined to do.

“You are such a scum,” he said before removing his microphone.

In 2017, Ho apologized after saying that pro-independence activists should be killed “without mercy.”