Initially, I was hoping for non-action on the part of the HK government as Oct 1st has already passed without any major incident and the rioters were losing support: http://zzwave.com/plaboard/posts/3958743.shtml

But instead, the HK government invoked the emergency law which escalated the situation and served as a rallying cause for the rioters. I predicted things will get worse: http://zzwave.com/plaboard/posts/3958801.shtml

Now, it is getting out of hand. Both the police and the rioters will show little or no restraint at all. The police will be far more nervous and trigger-happy and the rioters can not easily get to the police will focus on the soft targets. Those will include people who do not agree with them, the mainlanders visiting or working in HK and the families of the police members. It will descend into total chaos and mayhem.

THe optics of China's involvement is not good but how is that comparing to 20, 30 or more rioters got shot? If you are going to get China  involved eventually, you might as well do it now and nix the situation right now.