原标题：香港暴力示威警方之过？英国专家说是“无稽之谈”
Editor‘s note： A Hong Kong police officer was hospitalized after he was shot in his calf by an arrow during clashes with protesters near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 17， 2019。 Since June， violent protesters have been attacking the Hong Kong police。 The police took action to control the situation， according to the law， but they were accused by protesters and Western media of police brutality and abuse of power。 Each time a confrontation happens， accusations against the police are often more severe than criticism towards the mobs’ irrational acts。 Is this an accurate claim？ Tom Fowdy， a British political and international relations analyst who lived in Hong Kong， shares his views with CGTN。
编者按：2019年11月17日，香港理工大学附近，一名香港警员在与示威者发生冲突时被箭射中小腿，随后被送往医院。自6月以来，暴力示威者不断攻击香港警方。警方依法采取行动控制局势，却被示威者和西方媒体指责暴力执法和滥用权力。每当冲突发生时，对警方暴力的指责往往比对暴民非理性行为的批评更为严厉。事实是否如此？曾居香港的英国政治和国际关系分析家汤姆·福迪与CGTN分享了他的观点。
There‘s an underlining narrative， from the protests and their key figures that when you see the scenes of violence in Hong Kong it is apparently the police that provoke them to do that。 They claimed that it is a means of self-defense。 But， honestly， once you look at the evidence in its practical terms， this just makes no sense。
示威者及其骨干成员一贯的说法是，香港出现的一切暴力事件显然都是警方挑起的，自己只是被迫还击。他们称这是一种自卫手段。但是，老实说，一旦亲眼见证，你就会发现他们的说法纯属无稽之谈。
It‘s not just a battle between activists and the police。 We’ve seen how the most violent demonstrators have openly targeted properties and businesses that they deem to be pro-Beijing。 They have destroyed Xiaomi stores。 They have destroyed Bank of China branches。 They have intentionally started fires and destroyed transport infrastructure because it is linked to the authorities。 We have seen growing attacks on mainlanders present in the city。 We’ve seen a man set on fire。 There‘s an elderly gentleman who’s now passed away after a brick being thrown off his head。
那不仅仅是激进人士和警察之间的冲突。我们看到的是，极端暴力的示威者公然破坏他们所认为的亲中物业和企业。他们打砸小米商店和中国银行香港分行；他们蓄意纵火损毁交通设施，原因是这些设施为政府所有。我们看到越来越多在港内地人遭到攻击。我们看到有人被纵火焚烧。还有一位老先生被砖头砸中头部后去世了。
The idea that this violence is justifiable and encapsulated in the scope of retaliation to police activities is absolutely ludicrous。 And it more resembles an all embracing hatred and pursuit of everything linked to the Chinese mainland。 It‘s just not a justifiable defense。
有人认为这种暴力情有可原，仅仅是对警察执法的对等报复。这种想法简直荒唐。这种行为更像是对所有和中国内地相关事物的全盘仇恨，根本不是正当防卫。
When I lived in Hong Kong， it was quite evident that there was an underlying prejudice against the Chinese mainland。 It wasn‘t just a political prejudice against the Chinese mainland； it was social prejudice too。
我住在香港的时候，那里很明显对中国内地有一种根深蒂固的偏见。不仅只是对内地的政治偏见；也是一种社会偏见。
As the violence continues to escalate， this social prejudice is finding its way into the various conflicts and confrontations taking part。
随着暴力事件不断升级，这种社会偏见正以各种冲突和对抗的方式呈现出来。
For example， simply speaking mandarin in front of the demonstrators can be grounds for immediate suspicion and confrontation， even if you‘re on their side。
例如，即使你站在示威者一边，只要你在他们面前说普通话就会立即被怀疑和被攻击。
Because the movement is driven by a completely irrational and unrestrained hatred for the Chinese mainland， this means that the people themselves are simply not safe。 It goes beyond the scope of the government and the authorities。 And there is no buffer as to what that particular backlash will target。
因为这场运动的根源就在于对内地完全不理智和疯狂的仇恨。这意味着这些人本身就很危险。至于这种反抗情绪会发泄在哪里，则是完全无法控制的。
