Ronny Tong: opposition leaders can end the riots

Exco member Ronny Tong says rioters will listen to opposition leaders. Photo: RTHK

Executive Council member Ronny Tong has urged his former colleagues in the pro-democracy camp to step in and bring an end to months of protests, or face seeing the "total collapse" of the SAR.



Speaking on RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong programme, Tong said rioters must show respect for the rights of others and bring an end to their protests, while the government had to ensure that any police officer found to have abused their powers would be dealt with.



But, addressing the opposition camp, he said: "It takes two to tango. The community will not mend itself with the government acting alone. Those in opposition must accept freedom is not an issue here but a joint determination to make Hong Kong work again is.



"The rioters will not listen to reason coming from the SAR government. If they do, they wouldn’t be rioting in the first place. But they do listen to political and opinion leaders in opposition. It is time for these leaders to demonstrate their worth and their commitment to Hong Kong.



"Whatever the argument, we must respect the freedoms of the rest of the community: the freedom to take a different view on a controversial bill or any other political issue for that matter; the freedom to do business in a safe and orderly environment; and the freedom to be protected by the rule of law. That, dare I say, is the true concept of freedom."



Tong, a senior counsel and former lawmaker for the pro-democracy Civic Party, said the fact that months of protests showed that freedom of expression and of the press were well respected here.



He said the fact that US lawmakers were considering a law to sanction officials who stifle freedom in the SAR meant it was "almost as if we are living in two different worlds ... sadly, the make believe world led by the United States is winning".