Protect peaceful assembly

A group of parents gathered in Mong Kok on Sunday in support of law enforcement and to voice their opposition against uncivilized behavior in schools. The gathering was cut short by members of radical opposition parties, who not only used explicit language and gestures to interrupt peaceful speeches but also tried to take away the microphones from the concerned parents.

The use of violence by radical opposition groups to crash a peaceful gathering represents blatant suppression of other people's freedom of speech and assembly. Such behavior is detrimental to Hong Kong's core values and must not be tolerated. Members of local society should support the Hong Kong Police Force in exercising law enforcement correctly and protect the freedom of speech and assembly.

Lam Wai-sze, a primary school teacher, drew criticism from all corners of society after she verbally abused police officers in public last week. The fact is the Hong Kong Police Force has always maintained a restrained and professional attitude toward the increasingly confrontational behavior of opposition groups in recent years and won public recognition for it. Radical factions of the opposition camp have stepped up efforts to challenge and provoke police officers in recent years to the point that they pose a serious threat to public order in Hong Kong.

By the same token, Lam has set a very bad example for school children with her very public verbal abuse of police officers on duty. That is why many parents have stepped forward in support of the police, demanding that such lewd behavior be barred from schools. When they express peacefully their concern other groups have no right to interfere, period.

Hong Kong citizens enjoy freedom of speech and assembly. The opposition have been able to stage protests over the years as long as they applied for police permission according to existing laws, but they have trampled upon other people's freedom of expression and assembly by rudely and forcefully interrupting their peaceful gathering and speech. It is particularly outrageous that some opposition politicians who talk about freedom of speech all the time were among the foul-mouthed mob on Sunday. Talk about hypocrisy and double-standards.

This is an excerpted translation of a Wen Wei Po editorial published on Aug 5.

(HK Edition 08/06/2013 page1)