On 26 February, when the Financial Secretary was delivering his 2014-15 Budget, we received the news that former Ming Pao chief editor Kevin Lau Chun-to was chopped on a street. At that time, I was concentrating on the Budget’s content. This news made me extremely restless. Hong Kong is a place ruled by law. It is hard to believe that people dare to brutally hack a journalist in broad daylight. This is simply infuriating.
Although I do not know Lau personally, I have been a reader of Ming Pao for several decades and have read many of his articles. Lau’s commentaries show careful thoughts and unique analysis, and are truly admirable. According to reports, he was stabbed multiple times in the attack, and it is estimated that it will take him a long time to fully recover. I wholeheartedly wish Lau a speedy recovery, and that his family can overcome this unpleasant experience and start a new chapter in their life.
With the help of Guangdong’s Public Security Bureau, the two suspected assailants who escaped to the Mainland and others who are suspected to be related to the attack were swiftly arrested. Although the mastermind behind the assault is still at large, and the motive for the assault remains unknown, the police’s efficiency in cracking this case is nonetheless commendable. According to media reports, apart from the assistance from the Public Security Bureau of Mainland China, the successful arrests were made due to CCTV footage and mobile phone signals that were used to help track the suspects’ escape route. Their faces were captured and the images were sent to the Public Security Bureau for arrest. The suspects blatantly challenged the law in broad daylight, and they thought they were being obscure and not a soul would notice them. Never in their wildest dreams had they thought that the “eagle eye” would track them down.
Although Hong Kong’s crime rate is low, there are many unsolved crimes because of lack of leads. This case shows that information technology can play a key role during police investigation. I hope that the police can use more advanced technology to investigate cases and prevent crimes. At present, when a crime occurs, the police usually request shops to view their CCTV footage. However, the quality of the footage is varied. In fact, many private vehicles have installed security cameras. The Hong Kong police should learn from other metropolises around the world, and install more police “eagle eyes”. I understand that the use of CCTV cameras in city centers is a controversial issue, but it is worth our study and discussion.
I hope that all Ming Pao staff members can uphold their editorial policy used throughout the years. This includes producing balanced, neutral, and comprehensive reports, so that readers can fully grasp the actual situation of issues. These are the traditional values that Ming Pao has been proud of over the years.
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