Was listening to a podcast today where they were talking about laws that changed in the civil rights movement. Before 68, the local police/municipal was responsible for damages to personnel properly from rioting. Then there was a law change that removed the liability from the city/police and left the property liable, which then took the incentive away from the cops to do anything because they would be jeopardizing their safety and potentially opening themselves up to lawsuits for intervening. Plus the cuties get to expand infrastructure spending to rebuild which helps with tax expansions and bond repayment structures which help their bottom line even if they don't add any real value to the community.
Probably not applicable to HK. But in reference to local issues.