We all understand that playing with fire never ends well, literally or figuratively speaking. During the Mong Kok riot on the night of the Chinese New Year Day, some rioters went so far as to light up trash cans and other inflammable materials in the streets and were caught on camera. What television viewers did not see is that some of them even tried to stop firefighters from extinguishing the flames, Fire Services Department officers told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

Arson is high on the list of major crimes everywhere and the perpetrators are always severely punished without exception. This is because arson is often intended to kill people and destroy property at the same time. And it tends to result in horrific death and/or injury even if one intends to cause material damage only. The dire consequences of fires are such that those responsible for them, directly or indirectly, must not be allowed to start one ever again.

Considering the fact that the Mong Kok riot was premeditated and organized by "localist" groups, the relevant authorities should find out who exactly was behind it and make them accountable before the law as they clearly deserve. The organizers of the riot may or may not have told their followers specifically to commit arson, but they will be found guilty just the same for obvious reasons. They have no excuse whatsoever because they know how dangerous fires are, not to mention the appalling fact that some rioters actually tried to stop firefighters putting the flames out.

Such outrageous behavior shows that some rioters were so out of control at the time they really believed they could get away with anything. It is really not hard to imagine that the organizers must have promised the rioters legal assistance if they got caught. As it turned out some opposition politicians, who are also lawyers, did offer some of the rioters legal representation, for free. But most of them have been left to their own devices, so to speak.

Whatever these politicians were thinking when they decided to help the rioters, it had better not include the idea that setting things on fire during "protests" is acceptable as long as no casualties or serious damage is caused, because this argument will get them "burnt" later.

(HK Edition 02/19/2016 page11)