BEIJING, Oct 08 (INP): A shroud of blackness is spreading in Hong Kong. Black-clad people chant hateful slogans; black masks hide mobsters' identity as they bludgeon passersby with black umbrellas unfurled to hide from media cameras, all supposedly in the name of democracy and freedom.

According to report, published in Chinese media, for many residents, this blackness is depressing. They are often too intimidated to speak out or take action as they witness the violence that is wreaking havoc across Hong Kong.

Recent outbreaks of riots have undoubtedly unveiled the real threat to democracy and freedom in Hong Kong, once a peaceful and prosperous place in south China.

On Sunday night, black-clad rioters vandalized metro stations, forcing the shutdown of Hong Kong's key transport network, and shattered shops whose owners they assumed were patriotic, depriving others of the basic rights they claimed to be fighting for.

Their exercise of "private settlement," a euphemism for lynching those who disagree with them, or merely uttered different political views, reached new heights on Sunday night, when at least three people were savagely beaten by the rioters.

In one case, a woman was attacked by masked men when taking pictures of rioters damaging ATM machines. Footage from local channel TVB showed her bleeding from the mouth and neck, while some black-clad rioters kept scolding and pushing her and pointing laser beams directly at her face.

Cyberspace has become their "on-line black territory" as well.

Toby Gu, a Canadian vlogger who posted a video of black-clad mobs beating a passerby on YouTube, has received death threats.

Having read much news on Hong Kong, he decided to fly here, expecting to see the "peaceful" protesters and "brutal" police.

What he saw was just the opposite -- brutal protesters and restrained police.

He captured footage of a man being savagely and relentlessly beaten by rioters. A large mob swarmed on the man, raining a storm of fists and kicks on him.

What did the man do to deserve the savage beating? Video shows his hand brushing over a leaflet protesters had stuck on a wall in a metro station. Covered in blood and bruises, the man was cornered in the metro station while rioters continuously hit him in the five-minute video.

Gu's footage "enraged" protesters. They threatened him with malicious comments and messages. Some even wrote they had "daggers ready."

Freedom of speech? Yes, for protesters and those with identical views only. But the answer is no for anyone else.

Radical protesters have plastered numerous pieces of graffiti, posters and leaflets on public buildings and shop fronts. Some urged school children to walk out of class, others carried signs with slander, curses and degrading insults.

In Hong Kong these days, even the simple act of cleaning the graffiti and posters takes considerable courage. Radicals call them "Lennon Walls" and gangs beat people who dare to remove them.