Letters | Hong Kong’s riot-accused political refugees display shameful hypocrisy

I echo Mrs Regina Ip’s views as expressed in “German asylum for riot-accused an attack on Hong Kong justice system” (June 6), and will go further to express my disdain for hypocrisy.

I respect everyone who has integrity and sticks to his convictions with constancy, even if I don’t agree with their convictions. Ray Wong Toi-yeung and Alan Li Tung-sing acted with hypocritical cowardice. They faced rioting charges and would have received fair trials in Hong Kong. Occupy Central protesters could claim provocation by the police with tear gas; the Mong Kok rioters of Lunar New Year 2016 were a well-organised group not facing provocation – just a handful of policemen who had tried to keep public order when Food and Environment Department officers tried to disperse unlicensed hawkers, but who were surprised to find armed rioters hurling bricks, wielding makeshift weapons meant to inflict bodily harm, and starting fires.

Yet, Wong and Li jumped bail, fled to Germany, and sought asylum on the grounds of political persecution and unfair trial, when in truth they betrayed their principles, leaving fellow rioters to accept responsibility and go to prison. When in Hong Kong, the likes of Wong advocated Hong Kong independence and skipped June 4 vigils, but now they are attending June 4 seminars in Germany! That is hypocrisy. The same goes for those in the Bar Association who selectively defend the rule of law in Hong Kong.