for Occupy Central

　　A procedural hearing on an Occupy Central case that attracts the widest attention was held at the District Court yesterday.　　Benny Tai Yiu-ting and other eight defendants face "inciting others to cause public nuisance" and other charges.

　　This case attracts the widest attention not only because the defendants are core figures of Occupy Central, but also because this case is of important significance in upholding the rule of law.　　Citizens respect and support the court's just rulings based on facts and evidences, also expect the court rulings could once again epitomise the impregnable solid status of the rule of law in Hong Kong.

　　Pre-trial hearings are postponed to the beginning of next year and both the prosecution and defence will debate over the charges, so it is not appropriate to make too much comment on the case at this stage.　　To one's astonishment, however, Benny Tai as a defendant told the media on his own initiative after the court was adjourned that "Even the court also questions whether the charges are valid".　　It is suspicious that such words may be meant to exert pressure on the court, but what can be certain is that Benny Tai apparently declines to admit the charges.　　

　　Unwilling to take the blame and unwilling to honour his promise, this is the Occupy Central leader's true colours.　　By comparison with his words and deeds before and during Occupy Central, the public can well see the true colours of an extremely hypocritical politician like a "chameleon" or a "sanctimonious hypocrite".　　Such behaviour of making contradictory words and easily shifting positions at any moment cannot escape the judgment by the rule of law and public conscience.

　　This court case cannot but arouse the public to recall the painful memories of the 79-day illegal Occupy Central.　　That large-scale antagonist moment under the banners of "democracy", "freedom" and "self-determination" has enabled certain individuals to "achieve success and win recognition" but caused irreparable damages to Hong Kong.　　The economy was severely damaged, public interests eroded and development opportunities deprived, not to mention the unmendable serious antagonism it caused with kinships and friendships being bloodily ripped apart.　　Its disastrous effects carry on till these days.　　Yet this movement did not surface "at a sudden" nor was it launched autonomously by the masses.　　Instead it was plotted by some individuals and thus a dyed-in-the-wool organised and premeditate political movement.

　　Benny Tai's "ferocity" lies exactly in that not only is he the advocator of and a participant in this movement but in order to cover up his selfish political purpose he also spares no pains to cheat the public with one political lie after another.　　

　　From "civil disobedience" at the beginning to undisguised "achieving justice by breaking the law" later, Benny Tai under the disguise of a law professor has used various means to instill extremely erroneous ideas about the rule of law into young students.　　Wherever his evil influence reaches, young people revere violent antagonism, schools uphold extremist ideas, and society is permeated with cruel and fierce atmosphere.　　From the explosion at the Legislative Council building, to the Mong Kok Riot, and to the recent waves of advocates for "independence for Hong Kong" in university campuses, all have come into being inspired by these ideas of "trampling the rule of law".　　However, when a young student is caught by the long arm of the law and has to bear his legal responsibility, Benny Tai could instead ignore the promise he has made and shamelessly evade his responsibility.

　　The public trusts the court will make just rulings and restore the due authority of the rule of law in Hong Kong.　　But the damages to Hong Kong and the division of society caused by Occupy Central cannot possibly be mended by the "conviction" of the defendants, and the "records" of the jailed young people cannot possibly be cleaned up either.　　More importantly, the spirit of the rule of law, a core value treasured by Hong Kong citizens, is still subject to violation and erosion by the opposition, which is really the biggest worry of the general public.

　　20 September 2017