Civil war in Hong Kong? The mass arrests of April 18

By Jerome A. Cohen

The PRC is desperate to quell Hong Kong’s opposition and therefore willing to boldly gamble on this astonishing attack. I think today’s attack will reignite civil war in Hong Kong, despite Covid-19 restrictions, enhance opposition to the forthcoming PRC renewed effort to enact Article 23 repressive “national security” legislation in Hong Kong, and lead to the cancellation of the September LegCo election unless the democratic forces see the trap that has been set for them and act in ways that cannot be seen to justify cancellation of the election. A tall order in the face of the current provocation, which is only the most recent of many recent ones.

If the election is held, the opposition should win.