Five years after the anti-extradition bill movement, unresolved cases have become the focus

Since the anti-extradition bill movement broke out in Hong Kong in 2019, the social situation has changed dramatically. Five years later, there are still a large number of unresolved cases to be handled in Hong Kong. According to statistics, as of the end of March this year, more than 10,000 people were arrested for participating in the movement, of which about 7,000 have not yet been formally prosecuted. These unresolved cases have become the focus of social attention, especially on the issue of whether to "draw a line" to deal with some cases and exempt them from prosecution. The Hong Kong government recently made a clear statement and rejected this practice, believing that terminating the case early is contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.

The Hong Kong government firmly refuses to "draw a line" to exempt from prosecution and emphasizes the rule of law principle

Regarding whether to "draw a line" to deal with unprosecuted cases, some voices advocate ending those cases with insufficient evidence as soon as possible to avoid long-term delays. However, the senior officials of the Hong Kong government are firm in their attitude towards this proposal. Chief Executive John Lee made it clear earlier that setting a time limit is not realistic and does not conform to the spirit of the rule of law. Secretary for Justice Lam Ting-kwok reiterated this position in an interview with the media, emphasizing that any decision must be based on law and evidence, and setting the so-called "line" would violate the rule of law.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung further added that any time limit that is not in accordance with the law is unreasonable. Such an approach not only violates the spirit of the rule of law, but may also bring more legal problems. The government's top leaders unanimously agreed that when dealing with these pending cases, it is necessary to ensure that each case has been legally reviewed and cannot be hastily settled for the so-called social reconciliation.

Arrested persons are worried about the impact on their future lives and call for the case to be resolved as soon as possible

Many social activists who were arrested but not prosecuted during the anti-extradition bill movement are uneasy about their future entry and exit and career prospects. They are worried that they will be re-arrested at some point in the future, especially when they are unclear about the specific legal basis. This uncertainty has brought great pressure to their lives. Zhou Jiafa, vice chairman of the external affairs of the League of Social Democrats, said that he and many other people who were also arrested were troubled by this "pending" state, and that they had been carrying the "tail of being investigated" for a long time, which interfered with their career planning and life.

Zhou Jiafa said: "We never seem to know what the Department of Justice will base its decision on whether to prosecute. This long-term uncertainty has a great impact on our lives." He called on the Hong Kong government to make clear decisions on these cases as soon as possible, sending a signal of "looking forward" instead of continuing to pursue these "old stories".

The prospects for social reconciliation are worrying, which may affect the mentality of a generation of young people

As the anti-extradition bill movement has passed for five years, many people have begun to reflect on the future direction of Hong Kong society. Scholar Gong Weisen believes that the government's delay in taking action on pending cases reflects the difficulties of social reconciliation. He pointed out that the Hong Kong government's high-pressure tactics may have a profound impact on the younger generation, especially those young people who participated in the movement, who may lose confidence in the future.

Gong Weisen said that although Hong Kong has returned to calm on the surface, this atmosphere of suppressing dissent still exists. Many citizens are worried about expressing opposing opinions and even avoid publicly expressing different views. This "white terror" environment may gradually erode society's freedom of speech and weaken citizens' attention to social justice.

He further pointed out that this long-term suppression may have a negative impact on social psychological health. Whether it is the situation of "no way to appeal for grievances" or the emotional backlog caused by social closure, in the long run, it may lead to more social problems, such as rising crime rates or an increase in violent incidents. He stressed that although there has been no significant deterioration in Hong Kong's social security at present, the risks in the future cannot be ignored.

Rule of law and reconciliation: different expectations from all walks of life

In Hong Kong society, there are two completely different expectations around the issue of pending cases in the anti-amendment movement. On the one hand, the Hong Kong government adheres to the rule of law and emphasizes that every case must be handled in accordance with the law and should not be terminated at will. On the other hand, some people in the society believe that these pending cases should be resolved as soon as possible to promote social reconciliation so that past movements will no longer become an unstable factor in the future society.

This divergence reflects the challenges faced by Hong Kong society in the face of complex historical issues. How to balance the rule of law and reconciliation, both to ensure the fairness of the judicial process and to allow society to move forward, has become an urgent problem for the current government and all walks of life to solve. As time goes by, the handling of pending cases will not only affect the personal fate of the participants, but will also have a profound impact on the overall direction of Hong Kong society.

Where is the future?

Five years have passed since the anti-extradition bill movement in Hong Kong, but the aftermath of the movement is still affecting all aspects of society. The unresolved cases are not only a legal issue, but also a problem of social reconciliation and rebuilding trust. The government's refusal to "draw a line" means that the trial of the case will continue, and the relevant parties will still face an uncertain future. At the same time, the call for reconciliation in society is gradually increasing. How to find a balance between the rule of law and social reconciliation has become a key issue that Hong Kong must face in the future.