Attack on lawmaker at Hong Kong airport a serious security breach, and a slur on the city’s name

Albert Cheng says the attack on Nathan Law by pro-China activists appeared organised, and the security forces must be held accountable for providing inadequate protection

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Flanked by fellow legislators Edward Yiu (left) and Eddie Chu, lawmaker Nathan Law attends a press conference on Monday, a day after he was attacked at the Hong Kong airport on his return from Taipei. Photo: David Wong

Published: 4:24pm, 12 Jan 2017Updated: 7:29pm, 12 Jan 2017

Demosisto lawmaker Nathan Law Kwun-chung was attacked openly on Sunday evening by a gang of pro-Beijing protesters at the Hong Kong International Airport upon his return from Taiwan. While top officials have apparently turned a blind eye to the incident, we must not.

Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok has so far remained silent, while Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who has just resigned from her position as chief secretary, is apparently more concerned about her campaign to be the next chief executive.

Pro-China protesters injured not only Law but also at least two journalists. Protesters hurled verbal abuse as well as an unidentified liquid at Law. The rabble should have been arrested for violating the Airport Authority Ordinance. The fact that the police failed to stop the liquid from being splashed on Law is particularly alarming. This was a serious security breach at the airport.

Watch: Lawmaker Nathan Law attacked at the Hong Kong airport

Assault on Nathan Law is an attack on us all

In August 2000, two people, including an immigration officer, were killed and dozens of others injured after right-of-abode seekers started a fire at Immigration Tower. A fireball tore through the 13th floor of the Wan Chai building after a number of the migrants splashed flammable liquid around the lobby entrance and set it ablaze.

Our law enforcement officers should have learned a painful lesson from this tragedy. All measures should have been taken to stop people hurling the liquid at Law. Ultimately, the Legislative Council should summon the commissioner of police and the secretary for security to account for the incident.

Law was accused of promoting independence for Hong Kong, a charge that has been denied by his group. Demosisto’s position is only that the people of Hong Kong are entitled to have their own say in shaping their political future.

Pro-China activists display an anti-independence sign outside the venue in Taipei for a political forum hosted by Taiwan’s New Power Party, which Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, along with legislators Nathan Law, Eddie Chu and Edward Yiu, were attending. Photo: AFP

Rowdy anti-independence protests have been going on under banners proclaiming “Love China, Love Hong Kong”. However, the drama staged at the airport went too far, undermining Hong Kong’s reputation as one of the safest aviation hubs in the world.