Ship of Fools: Hong Kong police.

Thread: Hong Kong police. Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Peppone (# 3855) on :

So I spent half the day praising the Hong Kong Police for the restraint and professionalism they showed on Thursday night. But after today's events - the orchestrated ambush of student protestors, including numerous sexual assaults by triad thugs on female university and school students, the hours of abuse and violence endured by demonstrators in Mong Kok while police wrung their hands: now I say -

Hong Kong Police, you are cowards, and you are a disgrace to your uniforms and to Hong Kong. How comfortable you were on Sunday, gassing peaceful protestors with their hands up. And how little you did today, to face down known criminals and paid thugs on the streets.

People know and will never forget. Cowards, shameful, trafficking with the people you are supposed to protect us from, predators, criminals. And you still are letting it continue, allowing these thugs to be transported to the Admiralty site for fresh attacks.

Cowards. Stand up. Put your fucking helmets on now. Where's your pepper spray now? Where are your shotguns?

Cowards. Stand up. Let's see you.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Preach it. Craven assholes.

Posted by Martin PC not & Ship's Biohazard (# 368) on :

Bless them, for they know not what they do.

Posted by Peppone (# 3855) on :

The whole thing has been an exercise in letting us know who our real bosses are.

[Waterworks]

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Peppone:
The whole thing has been an exercise in letting us know who our real bosses are.

This was crystal clear from the moment of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. It was fantasy to believe that Beijing would keep its hands off. I have trouble accepting that any of the signatories actually believed it would. Especially as capitalism gained strength on the mainland, the CPC believes it can move in more strongly and not kill the golden goose. That has been the only thing that has slowed their roll in the past.

Posted by Peppone (# 3855) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lilBuddha:

quote:
Originally posted by Peppone:
The whole thing has been an exercise in letting us know who our real bosses are.

This was crystal clear from the moment of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. It was fantasy to believe that Beijing would keep its hands off. I have trouble accepting that any of the signatories actually believed it would. Especially as capitalism gained strength on the mainland, the CPC believes it can move in more strongly and not kill the golden goose. That has been the only thing that has slowed their roll in the past.

I meant that. But also of course, the reminder that at street level, triads and police collude to maintain the 'social order' their bosses enjoy so much.

Meanwhile I hear the Hong Kong Police are going to commemorate their role in this period of history with a small change to their uniforms: wide yellow stripes down the inseam of their trousers.

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :

I do not think it was actual cowardice, I think it was a deliberate tactic. Which is no better, mind.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Maybe there is a better word, but I knew what he meant. The police don't want to muddy their hands with overt impropriety, so they get someone else to do it.

At least the Oakland PD had the strength of character to be total dicks in public.

Posted by Evangeline (# 7002) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lilBuddha:
I do not think it was actual cowardice, I think it was a deliberate tactic. Which is no better, mind.

Agreed, there is a dash of cleverness about it as well though. Well if you want to ignore the Police.....look these people can do that too. Whachya gunna do about it call the Police who you have spurned?

Not saying it's right mind.

Posted by Peppone (# 3855) on :

I've no doubt there's some strategy to it, crude though it is.

And I think the cowardice is, first and foremost, institutional. The Hong Kong Police are letting themselves be used as a political tool. Their senior leadership are just going along with it.

But I also really *do* mean, some of those officers are chickenshit cowards, all bluster and pointing fingers and swinging batons when they are dealing with squeaky voiced students; but backing off and being positively deferential when faced with fit, hard determined criminals.

Not to mention that in at least some cases, there was open collusion between triads and police units - the triads formed up and stormed into the demonstrators, and the police followed up immediately to 'reclaim' occupied space.

Posted by Peppone (# 3855) on :

Mind you, here's some perspective:

43 students go missing in Mexico - mass grave found

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Oh, no, no no-- I did mission work there! [Waterworks]

Posted by Martin PC not & Ship's Biohazard (# 368) on :

Peppone, I very much value your news from the front. As for the police being a political tool with the underworld, it is always thus everywhere.

The Chinese monolith just has to continue to be patient, quite remarkably restrained. Wise. Worldly wise, but wise.

Posted by Peppone (# 3855) on :

Martin, I am just back home from a seven hour stint down at the Mong Kok protest area.

I felt very bad leaving, because as numbers dwindle, those left behind are very vulnerable to attacks by triads. But I have to work tomorrow.

But if you could see how those kids handle themselves! Facing down thugs, hands up in surrender. Amazing. To be honest I don't even think that Mong Kok site should be open now. The protesters should evacuate it and go to join all the others at the Central Government Office. But as long as they want to stay there, I will find time to go down and try and provide them some safety in numbers.

Posted by Martin PC not & Ship's Biohazard (# 368) on :

You and they have my useless tears. God bless you Peppone. Stay safe. Not a word on BBC rolling news for a couple of days now. The Chinese handled this brilliantly.

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