'Fake News' Turning Young People Into Criminals: DAB

The DAB warned on Wednesday that "fake news" and pro-democracy politicians are inspiring young people in Hong Kong to commit crime, and schools aren't doing enough to remind children not to break the law.

The pro-Beijing party said it decided to carry out a survey after noticing a sharp increase in the number of young people being arrested since the anti-government protests began last June.

It polled just over 1,300 people by telephone, asking them yes or no questions like "Do you think allowing fake news to be circulated causes young people to think more radically and incites them to commit illegal acts?”

More than 70 percent agreed that fake news is partly to blame for youth crime, the DAB said at a press conference to announce its findings.

Around 61 percent thought politicians are inciting young people to carry out offences, while 65 percent agreed that teachers aren't doing enough to encourage students to be law-abiding.

The DAB said around 62 percent of respondents believed the government has not carried out enough promotion work to persuade young people not to commit crime.

The party's vice-chairman, Holden Chow, agreed that pro-democracy politicians and "fake news" are leading young Hongkongers down the wrong path.

"Those messages actually involve a lot of distorted and wrongful ideas," Chow said.

"Some of the politicians urge people to commit crimes, saying a criminal record would make their lives better. I think this is totally wrong ... the youngsters are being inspired to commit crime."

Asked why the DAB hadn't quizzed people on whether they thought other factors could be responsible for the city's unrest, such as the authorities' response to the protests, Chow said the party plans to cover more areas in future surveys.

Hong Kong's police force has also repeatedly warned that young people are being led astray by adults with bad intentions, as well as "fake news" online and in some of the mainstream media.