We must respect others’ freedom from fear
Ever since Chan Yin-lam, a 15-year-old student of Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), was found dead in the sea off Yau Tong on Sept. 22, there has been a lot of speculation about the cause of her death.
Just this Wednesday, hundreds of students gathered again on the HKDA campus to ask the school to release additional CCTV footage regarding Chan. Failing to get that and to have a dialogue with the school's vice-principal, the students went on a rampage and vandalized a lot of campus facilities.
We agree that Chan’s death deserves further investigation, and many professionals have also called on the Coroner's Court to launch an inquiry to unravel the mysteries surrounding her death.
But is it necessary for the students to use violence in their bid to seek the truth?
It is unwise for them to voice their concerns and demand action by means of intimidation and coercion, particularly in an academic community where people are supposed to use reason and virtue to make a point.
Since the outbreak of the anti-extradition bill movement, a lot of students have been engaged in political disputes, with some of them suspected of having committed serious crimes such as rioting, arson and criminal damage during protests.
According to statistics compiled by media, between June 9 and Oct. 25, police arrested some 780 students, who accounted for over 30 percent of all the protest-related arrests.
Among them, 264 are students from the 11 tertiary institutions, which is definitely worrying.
Learning to be inclusive, to be respectful and to make compromises might sound a bit of a cliché these days, but isn't it still necessary and inspiring at a time when Hong Kong is witnessing its worst unrest in decades?
While we believe that it is a noble cause for students and other citizens to fight for freedom and human rights, we also believe it is equally necessary for them to respect others’ freedom from fear, and incumbent upon them to avoid resorting to violence.
This article appeared in the Hong Kong Economic Journal on Oct 31
Translation by Alan Lee
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