Political situation
Written by: Lin Jian
2020-09-01 07:00
Last update date: 2020-09-01 07:00
Yesterday (August 31) was the first anniversary of the 8.31 Prince Edward Station incident.
8.31, together with the July 21 attack on Yuen Long, are two major incidents in the legislative amendments, which are still being debated.
Among them, in the 7.21 incident, Lin Zhuoting, a member of the Democratic Legislative Council who was injured by a man in white, was arrested and prosecuted by the police on suspicion of participating in a riot, which caused even greater controversy. The day before and yesterday, citizens gathered in Prince Edward and Mong Kok to "commemorate 8.31."
Tian Beijun, Honorary Chairman of the Liberal Party, put forward a plan to ease this knot during an interview with "Hong Kong 01", suggesting that the Hong Kong government conduct independent investigations into the two incidents of 7.21 and 8.31 to fill the social tear.
He believes that these two matters have received the most attention, and only credible investigations can rebuild the credibility of the police force and the government and restore effective governance. "Hong Kong people will also be relatively comfortable"; and the National Security Act will follow. In this era, the pressure on the SAR and even the Beijing government at the international level can be greatly reduced as a result, which is a win-win situation.
7.21, 8.31: The biggest source of cracks between police and civilians
In the Yuen Long attack on July 21 last year, the police failed to stop the attack by the white-clothed man in time. In the clip broadcast by the "Fax Agency", the police seemed to give way to the white-clothed car to leave.
According to the scene footage, there were at least one or two hundred people in white clothes. Most of them were clearly photographed, but so far only 45 people in white clothes have been arrested.
After Lin Zhuoting and 12 other people were arrested last week, they also caused social repercussions, saying that Lin was the assailant, so why should he be arrested.
Tian Beijun later criticized on social networks: "The 721 is a noodle thorn in many Hong Kong people. If the government does not handle it with absolute fairness, justice and honesty, it will be difficult for the society to be harmonious and it will be difficult for the public to trust!"
As for the 8.31 incident, the police were suspected of using excessive force during law enforcement, and it affected non-demonstrators and passengers who did not resist.
Reporters and first responders were subsequently driven from the station, creating an information vacuum, leading to conspiracy theories.
Among them, the long ringing of the "emergency broadcast" bell on the platform of Prince Edward Station has become a lingering shadow in the hearts of some Hong Kong people.
At present, on the last day of every month, people go outside the Prince Edward Station to "commemorate" the event.
To avoid "weakening the police", Lam Cheng refuses to set up an independent investigation committee
The two incidents caused more serious rifts between the police and the people, and they were also the main basis for demonstrators to sue the police.
In the report issued by the Police Supervision Commission in May, the description of the two incidents was accused of directly applying the police's statement and misusing the false pictures of the pro-organization camp, which caused controversy.
The SAR government later described the report as "the truth about Hong Kong," and Chief Executive Carrie Lam again refused to establish an independent investigation committee, saying that it would "weaken the police."
▼8.31 Prince Edward Station▼
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Tian Beijun believes that the 7.21 incident must be handled fairly in order to convince the public.
(Screenshot of Tian Beijun's fb page)
Tian: It is too difficult to cover all the events and focus on the two controversial events first
In his eyes, Tian Beijun felt that the social conflicts in the past year did not diminish with the passage of time. On the contrary, it got deeper and deeper. The yellow and blue camps said their own words.
He believes that the government is reluctant to conduct independent investigations among the five major demands of the private sector. However, if the two major controversies are concentrated first, the workload will be greatly reduced, and the government has no excuse not to do it.
"There are so many incidents in the revision of the regulations, it is really difficult to check one by one, but first check 7.21, 8.31, you can definitely do it."
Tian Beijun also mentioned that the IPCC has no investigative powers. After the report was published in May, the sections on 7.21 and 8.31 also aroused public suspicion. The British scholar Clifford Stott, who has withdrawn from his international expert group, criticized the report for creating "new truth." .
The above situation is questionable, how credible the IPCC report is.
"If you want to bring justice to the police, you must go through a credible investigation."
He believes that in order to bring justice to the police, it is necessary to conduct credible investigations while investigating the demonstrators and the police.
He emphasized that this is not to say that the problem must lie with either side, but that any investigations are currently conducted by the police and will not find themselves. The conclusions are naturally biased towards one side: "The problem is that the government's statement on the disputed incident is completely blue. The battalion and the police system cannot strike a balance between them, because if the police cannot be found, the citizens are certainly not convinced."
Tian Beijun said that even if the government appoints a more conservative judge to be responsible, independent investigations have the least credibility: "After the government appoints an independent investigation committee, it will certainly investigate the protesters, but police information and government documents need to be handed over to the committee. Look at it together. At least it will not be as it is now. The yellow and blue camps will only release clips that are beneficial to them. The people under investigation do not include the police. How can the public believe the results of the investigation?" He believes that if the government continues to insist Refusal of independent investigations, rumors such as "8.31 people died" will continue to ferment endlessly: "No one can fully prove what happened that day. As soon as the independent investigation results come out, it is clear to everyone whether there are (dead people). "
Tian Beijun believes that the two most controversial events on 7.21 and 8.31 should be investigated independently.
(Profile picture)
Independent investigations in the post-National Security Law era help reduce international pressure
The anti-amendment incidents last year and even the implementation of the "National Security Law" by the central government on Hong Kong in recent months have caused pressure from the international community on Hong Kong. US President Trump is even more clear.
Tian Beijun believes that a credible survey will not only allow Hong Kong people to "favor", it will have considerable benefits for the SAR and the Central Government, and it is a win-win situation.
"Under the National Security Law, Beijing faces a lot of diplomatic pressure. If it does not conduct (independent investigations), it will hinder the governance of the SAR government and indirectly affect the Beijing government’s external credibility. Independent investigations have a certain degree of credibility internationally and are helpful. The SAR government has a foothold in the international arena. When the central government defends one country, two systems, it has more grounds, and it will benefit Beijing in any case." Tian Beijun said.
The demands of an independent investigation have been the consensus of the entire yellow camp, the centrist and even the light blue camp since June last year. However, the SAR government has always refused to give in due to the strong opposition of the police.
Last year, Tian Beijun, together with the founding chairman of the Liberal Party Li Pengfei (now dead), two other honorary chairman Zhou Liangshuyi and Liu Miriam, and party leader Zhong Guobin wrote to the chief executive requesting an independent investigation.
If we raise similar opinions today, will the government actually listen to them?
Tian Beijun said that the reason for launching the "League of Hope" is to have a balanced voice in society.
He believes that the government "can't be shocked too much": "The government does not need to be afraid of'compliance with the independent investigation of public opinion, it will appear to be afraid of the protesters.' Zheng has more than one year remaining in his term. To continue effective governance, he must first rebuild credibility before society can start again. Otherwise, people's livelihood policies will be difficult to implement and changes will be politicized.
Tian Beijun bluntly said that in fact, governments all over the world will support the police. This is the case in the United States and Belarus. The police violence problem in foreign countries may even be more serious than that in Hong Kong. However, after the "National Security Law" in Hong Kong, the public will be restored through fair investigations, and The credibility of the government is most helpful to the current situation. "Unless the government feels that there is something'not visible,' then it's another matter."
On August 31, 2020, citizens continued to "mourn" outside the Prince Edward Station.
The police are heavily guarded.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
831 First Anniversary | Police in Mong Kok pushes pregnant woman, pulls her husband down
831 First Anniversary | A white flower is presented outside the Prince Edward Station
831 First Anniversary | The Internet reported that the missing demonstrator "Han Baosheng" appeared in real life and was accused of rioting in exile in the UK
831 First Anniversary | Dozens of Mong Kok Shopping Centre Called Slogans, Police Charged 29 People, 2 Men Inspect Imitation Firearms
831 Incident | Deng Bingqiang Alleged that "Powers" Spread Fake News to Kill People and Endanger National Security
831 First Anniversary·Picture Series | Violent scenes, long-term stabbing is not removed, and the relationship between police and civilians is not repaired.
Tian Beijun clashes at Prince Edward Station in Yuen Long on 8.31