Hongkongers take action while the government dithers

THE social unrest gripping Hong Kong - now in its sixth month - worsened last week as violence reached new heights, universities were taken over by students, protests spread to the heart of the business district and traffic was paralysed.

Both the government and the protesters are banking on public support. The government hopes that the silent majority will be turned off by protesters' increasing violence, while the protesters believe that disgust at the government runs so deep that they will retain majority support.

In between is the general public. They are the ones who can bestow legitimacy. But the public is tired of waiting for government action. Increasingly, they are taking matters into their own hands.