Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Liaison Office, served as the reviewing officer at the Hong Kong Police College graduation ceremony on Sep. 16, marking the first time the Director of the Liaison Office presided over such an event. Veteran media analyst Ng Chi Sum suggests that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), considering the importance of maintaining control through both “the gun” and “the pen,” particularly values disciplinary forces, especially the police. This could signify that the Liaison Office has “taken over” the Hong Kong police.
During the ceremony, Mr. Zheng repeatedly mentioned national security and claimed that “anti-China troublemakers” and “external forces” attempted to undermine Hong Kong’s development. He described the Hong Kong police force using phrases like “a loyal and brave force” and “a civilized force.” It’s worth noting that Zheng Yanxiong was appointed as the Director of The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CCP in Hong Kong in July 2020 and took over as Director of the Liaison Office from Luo Huining in January of this year.
Mr. Wu’s analysis suggests that the CCP emphasizes “the gun” and “the pen,” believing that maintaining control through force is essential. Therefore, the CCP values disciplinary forces, especially the police. Many high-ranking officials in the Hong Kong government have a background in the security forces, such as current Chief Executive John Lee Ka Chiu, who previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Director of the Security Bureau, and Chan Kwok Ki, the current Secretary for Administration, who was the former Director of Immigration. Mr. Wu believes that Zheng’s presence at the Hong Kong Police College graduation ceremony and his use of phrases resembling those used for the CCP’s Army may indicate that the Hong Kong police have been “taken over” by the Liaison Office. The execution of the Hong Kong National Security Law may now be under the purview of the Liaison Office.
Regarding Zheng’s repeated mentions of “national security” in his speech, Mr. Wu suggests that this signifies CCP approval of the actions of the Hong Kong police, including the extradition of eight overseas Hong Kongers, referring to them as “street rats,” and the questioning of their families. It is expected that such situations will continue and may even escalate. Mr. Wu points out that there is a solid aversion to dehumanizing language in the West due to the historical context of the Holocaust against Jewish people. Despite this, the Hong Kong government continues to claim it is “telling the good Hong Kong story,” raising doubts in the West about the continued existence of “One Country, Two Systems.”
Mr. Zheng also praised the Hong Kong police as the “world’s finest police force.” Mr. Wu sarcastically suggests that perhaps the Hong Kong police “don’t dare to admit it themselves” and have previously only claimed to be one of the finest police forces in Asia. He also mentions recent cases involving police officers breaking the law, including theft during investigations and even a rape case involving a police officer. Mr. Wu further points out that Hong Kong is currently described as the “Hong Kong Machete Club,” with many cases recently involving young teenagers participating in watch store robberies and several knife attacks, raising the question of “how to combat crime.” He suggests that the Hong Kong police are instead heavily focused on dealing with national security cases.
