Monday 7 October 2019

Jing’s letter to the South China Morning Post | "Is this a Machiavellian play?"

We’re kind of cranky with the Pan-democrats....

Is this a Machiavellian play?

As a concerned HK resident, I have spent many sleepless nights watching the street violence livestream online, listening various political figures’ comments and reading as many analyses as possible.

I am disappointed at the government’s indecision and ineffectiveness while our city is sliding into anarchy. Many well meaning and concerned commentators and residents are trying to provide advice and critique. It looks all hopeless as our city is sliding into chaos and confusion. 

The political stalemate continues with no solution in sight while the street violence is ongoing and the vandalisation has expanded from public properties to companies and private businesses. People are worried who would be targeted next.

I have been an apolitical person and have taken the prosperity of our city for granted until now.
For the first time, I started to pay attention to the representatives of various political parties and what they are saying. One thing stands out is that the facts on the street, common sense and logical don’t seem to apply to some key figures from the opposition politicians. 

I have watched them ignoring the facts, representing unfounded allegations as truths to foreign politicians and think-tanks and making illogical comments to concerned and confused public. I watched one of their leading figures holding a picture of the girl with eye injury as evidence of police brutality and human right abuse on his American tour before we know what was actually happened, and the rumour of “three missing persons” has become 8.31 war crime. 
They accuse police inciting violence when the facts are the other way around according to the unedited livestream online. 
They also criticise the MTR failing to provide services when it is common sense that the MTR facilities have been constantly vandalised at a massive scale and we should be surprised that these hard working staff have kept it functioning at all. 
Furthermore, the legal arguments they present to public do not make sense for any legally-trained mind. Riding on an anti-China sentiment and youth violence on the street, they seem confident and self assured. 

But why are they doing this? Is this a Machiavellian play at the cost of our city?