Pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho said he has met with abuse online after having earlier made comments about the ‘killing’ of Hong Kong independence advocates. The police said they are following up on the matter.
At an anti-independence rally on Sunday, rural leader Tsang Shu-wo said that pro-independence activists should be “killed.” Ho shouted “without mercy” in response.
When he defended his words on the radio on Monday, Ho also said: “If those who are pro-independence lead to the subversion of the fate of the country… why shouldn’t these people be killed?”
But after an event on Wednesday evening, Ho said his word choice was not ideal and that he had meant to “put a stop” to Hong Kong independence, rather than incite others to break the law or advocate killing.
Ho expressed regret for the controversy it caused, but said he has no intention of taking back what he said and was not worried about prosecution, stressing it came from a place of conscience and respect for Basic Law.
He also said that he and his family received abuse and threats online, and that he will report the matter to the police, Headline Daily reported.
The police told HKFP on Thursday that the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau is following up on the incident.
On Wednesday, around 40 activists and lawmakers marched to the Law Society headquarters in protest of Ho’s comments. They demanded that the Department of Justice and the police investigate and prosecute Ho over the remarks, whilst also urging the Law Society to take disciplinary action.
The police earlier confirmed that it had received complaints about Ho’s remarks and classified it as a “request for police investigation.” The case was transferred to the Hong Kong Island Regional Public Order Event Investigation Team.
