Pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu has said that pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho’s alleged role in the violent mob attacks in Yuen Long on Sunday should be investigated.

On Sunday night, a group of unknown men in white attacked people at the MTR station with bamboo sticks and metal bars, among other weapons. The incident left at least 45 people injured including journalists and a lawmaker. At least eleven have since been arrested, with some confirmed to have triad backgrounds.

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In a widely circulated online video, Ho could be seen applauding and giving a “thumbs up” to people dressed in white on Sunday. He also shook hands with two men who held small Hong Kong bauhinia flags. When a man told Ho, “you are my idol,” the lawmaker replied: “All of you are my heroes.”

Following the comments, the graves of Ho’s parents were vandalised by unknown people on Tuesday. During his daily Facebook live programme on Tuesday, Ho claimed that Chu’s followers were behind the vandalism.

Graves of Junius Ho’s parents vandalised. Photo: LIHKG.

“Will you come to [the graves of] my parents and pay tribute? Will you condemn these thugs? Will you distance yourself from these thugs? Will you give up your followers?” Ho said.

He said Chu had two paths ahead: “A path of living, or a path of not living. It is your choice, decide earlier.”

Ho had appeared in a televised debate alongside Chu on RTHK on Tuesday, before he called the democrat “scum” and stormed off the set.

Junius Ho. Photo: Screenshot.

Chu has long been a vocal critic of what he calls “collusion between government, businesses, rural people and triads.” Ho, in turn, is an indigenous villager of Tuen Mun who was previously head of the Tuen Mun Rural Committee.

Chu said he would not report Ho’s apparent threats against him to the police unless he received clear signs that his safety, and the safety of his family, were in jeopardy.

“Circumstantial evidence pointed in the direction that these thugs on July 21 had deep connections to Junius Ho. The police should not only investigate some remarks by Ho, but also his role in the terror attack,” Chu told reporters on Wednesday.

Eddie Chu. Photo: RTHK screenshot.

“Junius Ho is not just a single person – he is a phenomenon. He represents Beijing’s wish to develop a violent culture, a boxer rebellion-like culture, a culture controlled by fake news and ideology – and that is why I cannot respond to Ho’s so-called accusations one by one,” Chu said.

Chu said he will join the proposed march in Yuen Long on Saturday calling for triads to be kicked out of the area in order to rebuild residents’ confidence.

Ho is a member of the governing council of the Lingnan University, appointed by former chief executive Leung Chun-ying. On Wednesday, Rex Auyeung, head of the council, said he wrote to the Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung to ask for an investigation into Ho’s alleged role in the Yuen Long attacks.

Part of the graves occupied areas (in red) that belonged to the Tuen Mun North Fresh Water Service Reservoir. Photo: Apple Daily.

Meanwhile, users of the popular Reddit-like LIHKG forum have filed complaints to the Lands Department claiming that the graves of Ho’s parents were occupying government land.

Aerial photos apparently showed that part of the graves occupied areas that belonged to the Tuen Mun North Fresh Water Service Reservoir.

According to law, anyone who occupies government land unlawfully could be sentenced to six months in jail and face a HK$10,000 fine. The government can take back the piece of land if a violation is found.