Alex Lo

My Take | Revealed: the double standard of Hong Kong’s political stone throwers

The opposition delights in highlighting the ill-advised remarks of rivals, but is not so keen to do when its members make comments in poor taste

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Former student leaders Colman Li Fung-kei (left) and Billy Fung Jing-en (right) sentenced to community service over his role in the chaotic University of Hong Kong siege. Photo: Sam Tsang

Alex Loin Toronto

Published: 3:11am, 23 Sep 2017Updated: 3:11am, 23 Sep 2017

The lenient sentencing of two former University of Hong Kong student leaders has brought to a satisfactory end a highly divisive case for all sides concerned. But it does raise an interesting point about the opposition and its double standard.

Billy Fung Jing-en and Colman Li Fung-kei showed remorse and acknowledged wrongdoing for helping to lay siege to a university council meeting. Officials, including some council members who were targeted in the rowdy protest, pleaded for leniency for the pair.

Instead of imposing custodial sentences, the judge handed down community service orders. The case shows how reconciliation is possible through our courts, even for a polarised community like ours.

It is useful, though, to recall one of the offending acts of Fung, especially in light of the current row over the “kill without mercy” remark of government-friendly lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu against pro-independence activists.

The opposition has made much of Ho’s Ill-advised remark by staging rallies and filing complaints to the police and the Law Society. Ho is a lawyer.