But wow, it would be a very different scene. Possibly use of firearms by the general population against police and government in HK could have led to the simpl

But wow, it would be a very different scene. Possibly use of firearms by the general population against police and government in HK could have led to the simple invasion of HK by the PRC army, with shootings and executions like those that happened at the time of Tiananmen, but on a larger scale. Right now, possibly the lack of firearms is a brake on falling into this doomsday scenario. When you know the other fellow doesn't have a firearm, you don't need to shoot first.