8 | Tuesday, August 10, 2021 EDITION | CHINA DAILY COMMENTHK Crime situation: Safer city with better prospects Grenville Cross says the NSL helps reduce the number of young people falling foul of the law

n July 27, the Hong beries fell by 64 percent, from 186 to 67, teens they involved in, for example, their who fomented the unrest in 2019 are still Kong Police Force burglaries fell by 35.9 percent, from 1,156 petrol bombings. Their naivete was ruth- at large, and as dangerous as ever. They issued its latest six- to 741, and thefts dropped by 13.4 per- lessly exploited by those who wanted to remain on the lookout for new means monthly report on the cent, from 10,762 to 9,317. sabotage the “one country, two systems” of exploiting young people and turning crime situation, cover- The reduction, moreover, by 15.7 per- policy and provoke Beijing into an armed them against society, whether by disre- ing the period from cent, of wounding and serious assault intervention. Although they failed, many spect of the national anthem, seditious Grenville Cross January to June 2021. cases, down from 2,462 to 2,076, is also of the youngsters they seduced have been activity at universities, or even bomb The author is a , law profes- plots. It contains a mass of information, much sor and criminal justice analyst, and was most welcome. It suggests strongly that left carrying the can for them, including Oof it positive, but by no means all. Such previously the director of public prosecu- the ethos of violence unleashed by the the 13-year-old boy who pleaded guilty at Although the National Security Law reports are invariably useful, and they tions of the Hong Kong SAR. protest movement and its armed wing court on July 30 to carrying two petrol has helped to cleanse the city, many can assist in di erent ways. during the insurrection has run its bombs in Mong Kok, on Aug 31, 2019. The dangers linger beneath the surface. But, In the fi ght against crime, detection, While, therefore, the report course, meaning everybody is safer. This, situation, however, is now improving, despite this, the report indicates that the which is very good news for everybody new law has been deployed with great by which is meant some form of solid (on the Hong Kong crime of course, has not happened by chance, action or sanction, is always vital. It is, but is directly linked to the enactment who believes that the city’s youth hold restraint. Indeed, in almost 13 months therefore, reassuring to discover that the situation) provides grounds of the National Security Law for Hong the keys to its future. only 117 people were arrested under it, overall detection rate has increased by for real encouragement, Kong on June 30, 2020. This has restored In 2018, the year immediately prior to with only 64 having been prosecuted. Its about 3.6 percent, to 35.7 percent, which, decency to the city, and helped the police the insurrection, a total of 2,769 juveniles very existence has been benefi cial, and although it may not sound particularly the situation could change to end the fanatics’ depredations. (aged 10 to 15) and young people (aged 16 many people who were inclining to delin- high, is encouraging. By comparison, the quickly. If, moreover, things It was, however, as the report shows, not to 20) were arrested for various crimes. quency have now stepped back from the Home O† ce in England and Wales, for are to progress, it would be all one-way tra† c. In the fi rst six months of But once the insurrection got underway, abyss. Some losers, of course, have either example, reported a detection rate of 7.8 this year there were, in comparison to last the fi gure mushroomed to 4,268 in 2019, fl ed or emigrated, but the city is not yet percent in the year ending in March 2019, wrong to leave everything year, signifi cant increases in the number of followed closely by 3,987 in 2020. The out of the woods. Other individuals, like which was down from 9.1 percent in the to the Police Force, particu- rapes, indecent assaults and domestic vio- report, however, reveals a marked decline a latent cancer, are simply biding their previous year. Hong Kong’s improved larly where young people lence cases. Potential victims, therefore, will in youth arrests in the fi rst six months of time, and these are the ones the police detection rate is undoubtedly related to need to be on their guard, and to exercise this year, and the overall fi gure of 1,519 must neutralize. the end of the insurrection of 2019-20, as are concerned. Anti-crime even greater care than usual. The police arrests suggests a return to pre-insur- While, therefore, the report provides this has released many o† cers from pub- initiatives are all well and will also need to consider if extra protec- rection levels. Whereas the number of grounds for real encouragement, the situ- tions might assist, such as beefed-up street juveniles arrested in the fi rst six months ation could change quickly. If, moreover, lic order duties and enabled them to get good, but what needs priori- back to their core investigate functions. patrols or crime advisories. If, moreover, of 2020 was 707, this fell, in the reporting things are to progress, it would be wrong One of the most important purposes of tization for the city’s youth is the social services can do more to identify period, by 23.3 percent, to 542. The cor- to leave everything to the Police Force, the biannual reports is to alert the public better parenting, responsible households where tensions are running responding decline in the young person particularly where young people are con- to the incidence of particular crimes, such high, particularly where families are living category was 38.9 percent, down from cerned. Anti-crime initiatives are all well as burglaries or assaults on females late at teaching, character building, in highly cramped conditions, this could 1,599 to 977. and good, but what needs prioritization night, so that people can take the neces- career planning, and realiz- help to deter the violent and protect the With the exception, therefore, of the for the city’s youth is better parenting, sary precautions. Allied to this, the reports able work prospects. vulnerable. protest leaders themselves, who led so responsible teaching, character build- show the areas where enhanced policing One highly encouraging feature of many young people astray in the fi rst ing, career planning, and realizable work is required, and which may necessitate a the report is the drastic reduction in place, this development will gratify every- prospects. After all, Hong Kong can only redeployment of manpower and resources. The report’s good news is that the overall the number of young people falling foul one who cares for the city’s future. If the achieve its full potential if it not only har- If, moreover, existing o ense provisions crime situation has improved, in com- of the law. During the insurrection, the school system can do more in future to nesses all its talent, but also motivates all are inadequate to combat particular types parison with the corresponding period in protest movement eagerly fed o the gull- instill basic values into its students and its people to pull together in support of of delinquency, such as the psychological 2020. Whereas there were 32,345 crimes ibility of the city’s youth, deploying many to ensure they possess basic moral values, local and national objectives. abuse of children, the government is put on in the fi rst six months of last year, these of them to its frontlines. This, of course, this will go a long way toward ensuring notice that it may need to strengthen the declined by 4.6 percent, to 30,871, this had disastrous consequences for many of that nobody can dupe them again. But The views do not necessarily refl ect those legal framework. year. In relation to particular crimes, rob- them, including the teens and even pre- vigilance is necessary, as many of those of China Daily.

Ad hoc measures will not clear PTU of its unpatriotic history

t a meet-the-press session last the 2019 riots, particularly in the perspec- in education that refused to relinquish its claimed support for teachers’ well-being. week, Chief Executive Carrie tive of its ill impact on the school sector anti-China stance. Sidelining the PTU, it alleged, would be Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor hit out created and perpetuated by its di erent By the EDB’s framework, a professional a loss to the education profession. Such at opposition claims that she channels for possible infusion of biased education organization “should uphold self-asserted claims could, however, be Achose to side against the Hong Kong Pro- political ideas and activities. The union professionalism, help teachers demon- readily refuted by the past “words and deeds” of the PTU. If the union took at fessional Teachers’ Union by bowing to Mervyn Cheung Man-ping was reproved for playing a supportive strate their professionalism in guiding pressure from Beijing, exerted through The author is chairman of Hong Kong role in the 2019 riots, which relegated students to discern right from wrong, heart the motherland’s development, it editorial statements published by media Education Policy Concern Organization. Hong Kong to a “riot city” on the vast teaching students the importance of law- would not have staged the mass sit-in outlets and People’s map of its motherland. Censured for tak- abidingness, and steering them to grow demonstration outside the government’s Daily, to cut ties with this education In principle, teacher train- ing on an escalating political orientation on the right track.” On these counts and headquarters in July 2012, demand- taking into account the foregoing circum- ing the withdrawal of the new national body. On grounds of avoiding the fur- ing courses organized by the over the past few years, which culminat- ther hijacking of education by the PTU’s ed in the 2019 street violence, the union stances, the PTU is not considered having education plan for schools by early Sep- political maneuvering in Hong Kong’s PTU will no longer be recog- was seen to have refrained from con- lived up to the rightful expectations, but tember. This has not yet recounted the schools, the chief executive stood fi rmly nized. Hence, schools should demning the students who were engaged rather engaging substantially in “politi- aggressive role of the teachers’ organiza- by her education aides’ decision to sever in the storming unrest and have even cal propaganda under the guise of being tion in both the HK Alliance — confi rmed working relations with the 95,000-strong not count teachers’ partici- blown up anti-China and anti-HKSAR a professional education organization”. having dropped out from it last week school workers’ union. An o† cial deci- pation in the PTU’s training government feelings to impel them to Since the EDB could no longer regard the — and the Civil Human Rights Front, sion of this level of importance has courses as part of the 150 revolt against the local governance. Such PTU as a professional education body, it responsible for organizing the city’s July 1 unsurprisingly prompted skeptical con- overdominance by politics, as argued by decided to cease, from July 31, all the fol- anti-government rally every year and the cerns about whether the city’s governing hours of Continuing Profes- the city’s top leader, which has overrid- lowing working relations with the PTU: “Occupy Central” movement, for which circle has been pushed into a boycotting sional Development activi- den school education, is unfair to most The EDB will no longer have any for- the PTU published teaching resources reaction under stress from the Chinese ties in the three-year cycles teachers, who have stayed neutral in mal or informal meetings with the PTU with contents on civil disobedience for mainland. However, these baseless allega- politics and dedicated to teaching. Any or its representatives, nor consult it on all teachers; as well as in launching a tions were sheer conjecture that fell fl at with effect from July 31; infi ltration of politics into schools will education-related issues. territorywide class and teaching boycott on their faces. however, in case schools find put into a bad social image education in In the meantime, the EDB will sus- by teachers, pulling schools into politics; general and teachers in particular. pend the handling of cases referred or and recently even openly promoting In expressing her concurrence to the that certain training courses Education Bureau’s move to cut the func- A local academic was reported to have concerns raised by the PTU. People con- books that glorify violence. tional a† liation with the PTU, the chief could be recognized given railed at the government’s ties-cutting cerned may directly contact the EDB, It is perhaps high time that the PTU executive was able to give a clear account their special circumstances, resolution as being disguised under a relevant schools or organizations. revisits its past public expressions and on the increasingly politics-laden devel- “recent plan by Beijing to tighten its The EDB will holistically review the advi- doings as a teachers’ union, to judge in a opments in recent years, with the 2019 they may consult the relevant grip on Hong Kong”. If this was the hid- sory committees and related educational clear perspective if it can be “prudently” anti-extradition violent protests being EDB senior school develop- den agenda behind the move, why was bodies under its purview. If any members considered capable of “genuinely” rep- the turning point, which has led to her ment officer. it necessary to have waited for so many are holding posts in these committees and resenting the local teaching force, which conclusion that the PTU made intense months to do it after the National Securi- bodies as representatives of the PTU, these is to be responsible for safeguarding stu- attempts at brewing up anti-government ty Law for Hong Kong was set in place for bodies will not recognize their membership, dents’ educational well-being by keeping or anti-Beijing sentiments, which pro- ter’s 45th anniversary ceremony in 2017. enforcement at the end of June last year? refuse their participation in the meetings, school campuses politics-free. The latest pelled a large number of students plus And since the assumption of the elected A more-plausible explanation seems to and deny them access to the EDB o† ce area strategies unveiled by the union will shift teachers toward participation in unlawful o† ce, the chief executive has injected a have tied in with the PTU declaring with- for the meetings. its attention to the handling of teachers’ protests. During the fl aming demonstra- total of HK$13.5 billion ($1.73 billion) of drawal last week from the Hong Kong In principle, teacher training courses professionalism and employment rights, tions in 2019, over 10,000 suspected law- new funds into the local education sys- Alliance in Support of Patriotic Demo- organized by the PTU will no longer be as well as the establishment of a Chinese breakers, including rioters, were arrested, tem, a move applauded by the PTU and cratic Movements in China, an umbrella recognized. Hence, schools should not count history and culture working group with including 4,000 youngsters — half of other education organizations. opposition group that organized the city’s teachers’ participation in the PTU’s training a declared focus in fostering a proper whom were school students. There were If the cessation of work-related attach- June 4 vigil every year. courses as part of the 150 hours of Continu- understanding of the development of the cases in which teachers were caught join- ment with the PTU was but a knee-jerk This apparent gesture of holding out ing Professional Development activities in homeland on the part of the teachers. ing such unauthorized activities with response to the mentioned commentaries olive branches was almost immediately the three-year cycles with e ect from July Admittedly, these are initial steps taken their students. In her view, the opportu- carried by Xinhua and People’s Daily, it frustrated by PTU President Fung Wai- 31; however, in case schools fi nd that certain in the right direction. Yet in the absence nity for any rational discussions between could not have been a fi nely compre- wah’s remark to the media that notwith- training courses could be recognized given of a critical and fundamental metamor- the government and the PTU was gone hensive package of systematic measures standing the pullout from the political their special circumstances, they may con- phosis of the PTU’s anti-China and anti- through no fault of her own. purporting to eradicate all traces of asso- alliance in question, the PTU’s political sult the relevant EDB senior school develop- SAR government political attitude, pro- Looking back, the Hong Kong Special ciation with the teachers’ group, given stance on the June 4 incident remained ment o† cer. gram portfolio and overt commentaries, Administrative Region government over the time-consuming manner in which the unchanged, and that its members did In response to this EDB-initiated all expedient rather than principled mea- the years carefully kept a working con- governmental machinery works and the not dismiss the possibility of stand- drastic scrapping of work-linked liaison, sures will possibly be viewed as “tricks to nection with the PTU in spite of its politi- exceedingly short interval between the ing with the alliance in the future. This the PTU a† rmed its positive concern evade accountability”, which are not able cal stance, apparently in a bid to build appearance of the two State media’s com- declaration is tantamount to a fl agrant over China’s development, its rejection to drum up enormous leverage capable of up a diversifi ed yet manageable portfolio mentaries and the EDB’s announcement confession of blatant disobedience that of Hong Kong independence and non- removing the unpatriotic stigma of being of representation in the city’s education of its break-o in contacts with the PTU. put an obvious end to the advisability of incitement of students’ participation in a “malignant tumor” in the city’s educa- services. It will be recalled that the chief It is, therefore, logical and sensible continuing any working links with this anti-HKSAR government violent pro- tion profession. executive attempted to break the ice in to deduce that the education authori- education workers’ body. And with this tests in 2019. It further argued that the the government’s interactions with the ties have been keeping in close view the hopeless reality, the EDB had to reach a EDB should get in touch with education The views do not necessarily refl ect those PTU by consenting to o† ciate at the lat- behavior of the union’s leadership since decision on its future with a trade union bodies in order to substantiate its pro- of China Daily.