How Hong Kong can draw line under the 2019-20 protests and move forward

Hong Kong needs to give some serious and creative thought as to how best we, as a community, are going to draw a line under the events of the 2019-20 protest movement.

That this was a serious and sad episode in our history cannot be denied or avoided. Thousands of well-meaning ordinary individuals joined public demonstrations, many for the first time in their lives.

Whatever the flaws of the government’s extradition legislation and undoubted missteps in its political execution, and however genuine the motives of most demonstrators were, the situation spiralled out of control. Violence broke out on the streets and damage amounting to tens of millions of dollars was done to public and private property.

When the dust finally settled and the violence had ceased, emotions gradually subsided. Where did it all leave us?

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung recently gave a useful update in an interview with this newspaper. A total of 10,286 people of all ages have been arrested, of whom just 2,978 have been charged with any specific offences. That means more than 7,000 people remain in a kind of legal limbo. They have not been charged with any offence, but in theory their cases remain open.

Although Tang did not say so explicitly, it could be inferred that those concerned remain on bail granted under the Police Force Ordinance. That means they are not incarcerated but are subject to various restrictions on their freedom, for example requirements to put up a surety and abide by reporting requirements, and sometimes restrictions on travel.