Why are you all so strict and harsh with the people of Hong Kong but so lenient to the people of China ?
Dr. Li Wen-liang, a Chinese doctor who had been accused of spreading rumours about the outbreak of the new coronavirus in China, ultimately died from contracting the virus himself. Many kind-hearted people from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan showed their feelings of sympathy towards Li’s death. The story behind Li’s death included plots and characters one would find in a Shakespearean tragedy: good people and good deeds; a tragic hero of conscience; a country ruled by the “dark” regime of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); and the treacherous, rapidly-changing fate of a human being. The pro-Greater China camp even held a memorial service to mourn Dr. Li. However, such outpouring of grief has never been seen among this group of people towards the numerous death and injuries of our people during the recent social movement.
Netizens later discovered that Li Wen-liang was a “flag guard” (ie. guard of the CCP, who loved his home country and the CCP) as evidenced by what he said on the social media platform, Weibo. Li also supported the Hong Kong police’s suppression of Hong Kong protesters. Li actually never intended to reveal the truth whole-heartedly. He was betrayed by someone in his circle of friends and relatives when he privately shared news about the new coronavirus.
We can accept and understand the respect mainland Chinese have for Li Wenliang, since they are in line with Li’s stance of loving one’s home country and the CCP but on the other hand, they are also dissatisfied about how the CCP has mishandled the outbreak of the virus. They need a hero who shared the same values and perspectives. Therefore, Li Wen-liang seemed to fit the bill. On the contrary, it is shameful and lacking in conscience for Hong Kong people to sing the praises of Li and pay him tribute.
The suppression of the anti-extradition law movement has been very hostile to protestors. Li Wen-liang was in agreement with the CCP’s stance regarding the protests. He openly showed his opposition to Hong Kong protestors. Some Hong Kong people have been critical of characters such as Wat Wing Yin, the Sheriff Lau Cha Kei (the so called “bald sheriff”) and Leung Chun Ying (“689”) while showing tolerance for others. Such people defended their respect for Li Wen-liang by saying that Li did a good thing in the end. In this regard, I should say that the Japanese soldiers who committed massacre in Nanjing might also have been “good people” in their home country as they may have done many good deeds in their home country but this will never make them heroes.
Some who sympathize with the people of China will say the problem does not lie with the people of China or Li Wen-liang . Such sympathizers (of people of China) claim that the social environment and education under the CCP had made the people of China and Li become what they are now. According to this logic, they can also say that President Xi Jinping became Emperor Xi, the tyrant, only because he was born to a communist family and has nothing to do with President Xi’s character. Nevertheless, it was the fault of the society. The fact that the democrats of Hong Kong are flattering Li Wen-liang as a hero is a kind of black humour in Hong Kong.
Of course, it is true that humans have many facets. They have both good sides and bad sides. Heroes may sometimes have flaws. People who have flaws can be heroes. It is said that we should be tolerant of people’s flaws. I would not care so much as long as Hong Kong people are tolerant of everyone’s imperfections. However, the pro-establishment camp of Hong Kong’s political regime have not shown tolerance towards the successors and young people of Hong Kong to the same degree as that shown to Li Wen-liang. The “survivors” of the Mongkok Riot have to live with slander and false accusations to this day.