(Bloomberg) — A pro-Beijing lawmaker in Hong Kong known for his anti-protester comments was attacked and injured on the campaign trail, in the latest violent episode to mar elections in the former British colony.
In an incident caught on video and spread on social media, legislator Junius Ho was stabbed in the chest by a man while campaigning for a District Council seat Wednesday morning in the northwestern area of Tuen Mun. The man — wearing a backward ball cap and a smile — gave Ho a bouquet of flowers before producing an object from a messenger’s bag and jabbing it into the lawmaker’s chest.
Ho told the Hong Kong Economic Journal he suffered a “superficial,” 2 centimeter-long (1 inch) wound near his rib cage. The candidate, his assistant and the suspect were injured in the attack and resulting scuffle, police said, adding that they had arrested one person and recovered a “fruit knife” as evidence.
“Even though I am injured and even though the climate of the election is unjust and order is already lost, I will still remain fearless,” Ho said in a statement on his Weibo account, adding that it was “black day” for the district elections.
The Hong Kong government said in a statement that it “severely condemns” the attack. “The government will not tolerate any violent behavior and the police will continue to strictly enforce the law to safeguard social peace,” the government said.
The campaign for hundreds of seats across Hong Kong’s 18 local districts was already tense, coming amid the worst unrest to strike the city in more than a half century. Over the weekend, a pro-democracy district councilor had part of his ear bitten off after being attacked, while three opposition candidates were arrested for holding campaign rallies that police described as unlawful assemblies.
The violence has led to speculation that Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam might suspend the Nov. 24 elections, something the government hasn’t ruled out. Such a move would deal a further blow to demands for greater democracy in the only region under Beijing’s rule that freely elects candidates for some public offices.
The latest incident came as the embattled chief executive met with Vice Premier Han Zheng in Beijing, two days after Chinese President Xi Jinping personally reaffirmed support for her leadership. Han told Lam on Wednesday that violent behavior by “radical separatists” had touched the central government’s bottom line and couldn’t be tolerated.
Controversial Figure
Ho has long been among the most controversial figures in the pro-government camp, saying in 2017 that independence advocates should be “killed mercilessly.” His actions during the recent unrest, in which he has called protesters “cockroaches” in Facebook posts, have heightened that reputation.
After shocking mob attacks on protesters and train passengers in a subway station in July, Ho was called on to explain videos that circulated of him shaking hands with men who dressed similarly to the assailants. Ho denied any connection to the attackers, but said they were “defending their home and people.”
Ho’s offices have previously been vandalized by protesters. Last month, Anglia Ruskin University rescinded an honorary degree it had given Ho over his conduct during the protests, the U.K.-based Spectator reported, citing the university.
(Updates with details of attack in second paragraph)
To contact the reporter on this story: Natalie Lung in Hong Kong at [email protected]
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Brendan Scott at [email protected], Iain Marlow
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