'Jail Terms Won't Solve Reasons For Mong Kok Riot'

Barrister and Civic Party chairman Alan Leong warned on Tuesday that locking people up over the 2016 Mong Kok riot will not solve the reasons behind the events.

"These reasons of ventilation of frustrations will come back to haunt us," he warned. Unless you deal with them at their roots and return Hong Kong to a fairer society, I cannot see how such deterrence can solve the problems."

But Leong said the six-year sentence given to prominent localist Edward Leung for rioting during the Lunar New Year disturbances two years ago will definitely serve as a deterrent.

Leong also said there are arguable reasons for an appeal, but he said he understands why Leung may not want to go down that route for fear of an even harsher sentence.

He told RTHK's Wong Yin-ting that a comparison of sentences handed down on Monday and those given over the 1967 riots is a ground for launching an appeal.

Demosisto leader Agnes Chow said the sentence is too harsh when compared to the jail terms given for the "real riots" of 1967. But she said she can't say what is an appropriate punishment as she is "not a judge".

Meanwhile, pro-Beijing legislator Junius Ho said he does not believe Leung's sentence was too harsh. He said the jail term sends an important message to society that no matter what people are fighting for, their actions must be in accordance with the law.

"If everybody who just proposed to promote democracy without paying due regards to the legality and also the legal aspect, that would be a very dangerous move. That can't be tolerated," Ho said.

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