Opinion | Criminals who threaten national security must not be granted leniency or reconciliation

By Stanley Ng, LegCo Member

The Hong Kong courts are lawfully adjudicating the subversion case and the case involving Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Media. Some media outlets are fabricating so-called "great reconciliation" arguments and "tolerance" theories, claiming to call for societal reconciliation, but in reality, they are merely testing the waters to create opportunities for anti-China and anti-Hong Kong elements to evade legal consequences. Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law; whether someone is guilty or not is determined by the courts. Calls for "lenient sentences" and "tolerance" fundamentally place politics above the rule of law, undermining it. Violating national security laws should be punished by the courts according to the law—both right and just.

The principle of holding illegal actions accountable is an important manifestation of judicial spirit and is essential for safeguarding national security. In Hong Kong, there are so-called "enlightened individuals" and "gentlemen," but when anti-China and anti-Hong Kong elements face legal consequences, they step forward as "mediators," concocting notions of "great reconciliation."

Promoting "great reconciliation" in Hong Kong is a false proposition.

In Western political struggles, the concept of "great reconciliation" is often used to interpret changes in political relationships. The idea of "great reconciliation" is based on the interests of a region or country, aiming for a certain compromise on political differences in exchange for unity in handling major issues. However, it must be emphasized that the premise of "great reconciliation" is that everyone is patriotic and emphasizes national unity; otherwise, "reconciliation" is nonsensical. Just as the British government does not allow Scotland to pursue independence, and Spain does not permit Catalonia to secede, territorial integrity is a bottom line and consensus. If a political party colludes with foreign forces to engage in subversion and the government seeks "great reconciliation" with them, it would be a betrayal of its people, bringing it closer to collapse and national ruin.

Anti-China and anti-Hong Kong elements colluding with foreign forces, willingly becoming pawns of external anti-China forces, instigating illegal and destructive activities, and seeking to subvert the government for "independence" cannot be "reconciled" with, nor can they be compromised, sheltered, or tolerated. The notion of "great reconciliation" or calls for leniency are absurd; it is akin to releasing a tiger back into the mountains, inevitably leading to endless troubles.

Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, where the courts determine whether a crime has been committed. However, some individuals mistakenly believe that politics can interfere with the judiciary, which is an incomprehensible notion. Those who stubbornly threaten national security and social stability, including anti-China and "Hong Kong independence" activists, must not be tolerated; they must be held accountable under the law and face legal consequences.

As for the so-called "great reconciliation," it is not only a false proposition but also a cunning distraction, rendering any discussion unnecessary. Society must be vigilant against those who attempt to confuse right and wrong, subtly advocating for anti-China activists and distorting the punishment of criminals as the government's "intolerance" and "lack of reconciliation."

Some media outlets have even sought to excuse the so-called "tolerance" for national security offenders, collaborating with self-styled scholars to promote the fallacy that the government should "encourage protests and demonstrations." The number of demonstrations is never an indicator of the quality of a place. Hong Kong's past reputation as the "capital of protests" is not a badge of honor, much like the rampant violence during the extradition bill turmoil, which foreign politicians glamorized as the "most beautiful scenery." If this "most beautiful scenery" were truly positive, why would Western governments ruthlessly suppress protests occurring in their own countries?

The Basic Law guarantees Hong Kong citizens the right to protest, but such protests must be grounded in lawfulness and cannot be used as a means to incite resistance against the government or subvert the regime. Historically, anti-China forces have often hijacked peaceful protests, using them as political tools to advocate for government opposition and regime change, while treating protests as a means to fundraise.

In any normal society, there should not be a normalization of radicalized and violent protests, nor should there be professional organizers and participants who, for political purposes or financial gain, perpetuate endless demonstrations. This inevitably poses significant risks to social harmony and stability. Hong Kong has learned enough painful lessons and must not repeat past mistakes; we must remain alert to the fallacy of "encouraging protests and demonstrations."

Inclusion should not become "indulgence"

In reality, protests are not the only way to express demands. Beyond Western voting-based democracy and protest-based democracy, there is a more practical "whole-process people's democracy" that centers on the people. Our country practices "whole-process people's democracy," which has created remarkable achievements in rapid economic development and long-term national stability. Hong Kong, as an inseparable part of China under the "one country, two systems" framework, should be capable of forging a path of democratic development that aligns with its actual circumstances, rather than merely copying the Western model.

As Hong Kong enters a new phase of governance and revitalization, fully implementing "patriots governing Hong Kong," various sectors of society can express their demands through more diversified and effective means. This approach not only helps to address issues and meet different needs but also allows for finding common ground while respecting differences, focusing on development, promoting harmony, and better preventing Hong Kong from reverting to social division and escalating conflicts.

Anti-China and anti-Hong Kong elements, cloaked in the banners of "democracy" and "freedom," have recklessly colluded with external forces to instigate a "color revolution" in the form of the extradition bill turmoil, bringing disaster to Hong Kong—a lesson that citizens will not forget. Today, when some propose the fallacies of "great reconciliation" and "tolerance," they are, in fact, indulging criminals who threaten national security and undermine the rule of law and stability in Hong Kong.

Those who harm others but demand that no one retaliates, and who even oppose preventative measures while advocating for "great reconciliation" and "tolerance," should not be approached. As for those who violate national security laws, to borrow the words of Lu Xun: "Not a single act of forgiveness!"

(Source: Wen Wei Po)

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