Tang sees no merit in defense of cop stabbing

The new Secretary for Security, Chris Tang Ping-keung, took a dig at law professor Johannes Chan Man-mun - without naming him - saying he hopes he does not lose sleep at night defending people who pay tribute to the cop stabber.

Chan, chair law professor at the University of Hong Kong, had said it would be too far fetched to say people who paid tribute to the 50-year-old Leung Kin-fai - who stabbed a police officer in Causeway Bay on July 1 and killed himself afterward - supported terrorism.

Speaking at the Legislative Council yesterday, Tang made an ironic comment, saying: "I hope the university professor can sleep well at night, as you might be making Hong Kong bloody again."

He said violent acts should not be glorified, encouraged and sympathized with. If someone encouraged violent behavior, the police would prosecute them if there was sufficient evidence to convince the courts.

"Encouraging people to sympathize is very dangerous and immoral behavior, as sympathy will turn into support, and support will turn into participation," he told lawmakers, adding people should condemn those who execute, condone and water down terrorist activities, and make them the scum of society, so that every one would condemn that sort of behavior.

Tang also said the government is concerned about the spread of "fake" news, and the Home Affairs Bureau will start looking into legislation tackling the issue.

On Sunday, Chan said violent behavior should be condemned, but added paying tribute to the attacker could be out of sympathy, or could even be a way to voice discontent toward the government.

There is a big gap between paying tribute and promoting terrorism, he said. If the government keeps making mountains out of molehills, it would only intensify the confrontation between the government and the public.

Meanwhile, four more pro-democracy groups established after the Occupy Central movement in 2014 have disbanded amid national security law concerns.

Act Voice, a group composed of actuaries, wrote in its last social media post: "Even if we self-censor the content we publish, we may overstep the marks of the national security law."

Umbrella Parents - a group of protesters' parents, said on social media: "The world has changed, and I hope everyone will be safe and sound."

Hong Kong Psychologists Concern said: "Other similar groups have ceased their operations. I think this is the 'ride or die together' spirit."

A council member of the Bar Association, Jeremy Bartlett, has resigned from his position without giving reasons, Sing Tao Daily reported.

Bartlett, 61, a senior counsel, tendered his resignation on June 28, said an internal e-mail sent to 1,500 members of the Bar Association, which thanked Bartlett for his past contributions.

He started practicing as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 1988, and was appointed a senior counsel in 2015.