[China Daily] National security education needed urgently after terrorism glorification
By Junius Ho and Kacee Ting Wong
Published: 22:07, July 20, 2021 | Updated: 10:34, July 21, 2021
It seems that the National Security Law for Hong Kong is too powerful to be challenged by hostile anti-China forces in Hong Kong partly because of its deterrent effect and partly because most of the anti-China political figures are either in prison or in self-imposed exile. But the law is not powerful enough to secure public compliance with its statutory provisions as shown by the reprehensible stunt of some the University of Hong Kong students — glorifying domestic terrorism. It came as a great shock to Hong Kong people that the University of Hong Kong Students’ Union Council passed a motion lauding the “sacrifice” of the lone-wolf terrorist who stabbed a police officer before killing himself in Causeway Bay on July 1. Later they apologized. But the apology seemed to lack genuine remorse. Police are now investigating whether the group advocated or incited terrorism under Article 27 of the National Security Law.
Compliance, which is a kind of voluntary law-abiding behavior, is concerned with the influence of what people regard as just and moral as opposed to what is in their self-interest. Contrary to the norms of public decency and morality, the HKUSU Council tried to portray the lone-wolf terrorist in a virtuous light and said it was grateful to him for his “sacrifice”. A question might arise as to whether the members of the council view compliance with the National Security Law as moral and just. Judging from their conduct, they do not intend to voluntarily assume the obligation to comply with the National Security Law. Nor do they understand that safeguarding national security is in the best interest of Hong Kong.
