On the website of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, there is an article that discusses what terrorism is. Having quoted several resolutions, it listed a few characteristics, such as criminal acts, including against civilians, committed with intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or taking of hostages, with the purpose to provoke a state of terror.

In the past two weeks, there have been at least two incidents in Hong Kong that meet such a standard. The first was the assailant who attacked a policeman with a knife and committed suicide after being surrounded, who opposed the National Security Law in a pre-written letter. The second was the Returning Valiant, an organization caught making explosives and planning to bomb the court, the undersea tunnel, the railway and public garbage cans. Their members had been photographed several times handing out posters to passersby on the street, asking the latter to join their "armed uprising".

In both cases, people had done or intended to commit a crime, had clear political purposes, and provoked terror in the public. Just imagine what it feels like to walk on a street where one might jump out with a knife or a garbage can might explode at any time.

That's why it is rather absurd for some to elevate the knife attacker or the members of "Returning Valiant" into "heroes". Their deeds perfectly match the UN's definition on terrorism, a public-recognized crime against all humankind. Some might have their own political purposes, too, and hope to make use of the incidents to attack the HKSAR government or the central government, but by doing so they are siding with a most notorious enemy to humankind.

By the way, those brainwashing others into committing terrorism are considered terrorists, too. That's why in the "Returning Valiant" case, the adults that taught middle school students and lured them into their organizations have got more public criticism and are considered to have committed a greater sin than the cannon fodder they make use of.

Had the "Returning Valiant" not been caught on July 5, the bombs might have already exploded in Hong Kong and those mourning the knife attacker might be among the casualties, too.

We believe that's a scene even those sympathizing with the assailant would not like to see.

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