Hong Kong Unrest: Pro-police camp becomes target of violence
Updated 11:23, 05-Sep-2019
As the unrest in Hong Kong enters its 14th week, pro-police demonstrators have increasingly become targets of violence. Xu Xinchen has more.
Ex-police officer Man Shek has three daughters — the youngest less than 10-years-old. He quit the force to start his own security firm and help his wife manage several salons in Hong Kong — living a regular middle-class life.
MAN SHEK FORMER POLICE OFFICER "This is a photo taken in 1993 when I joined the police college."
Most of Shek's classmates from the academy still remain on the force and he believes that his formal companions have responded only after being violently attacked by radical protestors.
After participating in a pro-police rally on June 30, however, Shek became the target of harassment from pro-democracy protestors who are now pointing their fingers at police and accusing them of using excessive force during recent protests. Some even commented online — that they would rape his daughter.
MAN SHEK FORMER POLICE OFFICER "I do worry about them. If I can, I always take my girls to school and pick them up afterwards. I always pay attention to their surroundings to see if there are any suspicious people or people with weapons."
24-year-old Stefan who studied in the UK before returning to Hong Kong is a rare face in the pro-police camp. He asked us to not divulge his full name nor show his face. He fears radicals could find his personal information — and send in threats.
STEFAN HONG KONG RESIDENT "They blackmail people online, discriminate towards people who do not support them. If they find photos of your family and kids, they will say we will pick them up from the school and do something about them."
XU XINCHEN HONG KONG "Is this the democracy people are asking for here in Hong Kong? Opposing voices are cornered and threatened."
STEFAN HONG KONG RESIDENT "I support the police because they are just regular working-class and normal residents. They go to work to protect people in Hong Kong. But now, radical protesters are attacking the police, discriminating against police families and threatening them, this is not logical. Protesters should be peaceful and should not be so hostile towards the police."
Both Shek and Stefan believe that many Hong Kong youngsters are being taken advantage of by radical protestors while some may still fight to make their voices heard, others may just look for the thrills coming from confronting police officers. Xu Xinchen, CGTN, Hong Kong.