Over the past year, Hong Kong has threatened protesters with jail for holding demonstrations banned to due virus-control measures. Now, a decision to forgive three senior officials for attending a dinner in violation of COVID-19 rules has provided a new rallying cry for pro-democracy activists.
"The government has double standards,” Wai Chu, a 41-year-old engineer, said Wednesday. "As long as the person involved is on their side, they will be very tolerant, but when it comes to dealing with young people — the opposition — they will handle it rigorously.”
The so-called hot-pot scandal — named for the communal soup dish served at the dinner — erupted after local news outlets including Ming Pao and Stand News named the three officials earlier this month and disclosed they each paid a fine of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars ($645) for attending the March 2 event. Government attempts to explain why the "hot-pot trio” weren’t fired fueled more outrage: Security Secretary Chris Tang argued Wednesday that such events required officials to "sacrifice” time with their families.