Because they are enthusiasts who believe that personal weapons stop oppressive governments. They've watched Hollywood movies and they believe that they know how

Because they are enthusiasts who believe that personal weapons stop oppressive governments. They've watched Hollywood movies and they believe that they know how to make revolutions. My mental exercise means to show that a highly nationalistic totalitarian regime which believes in itself and is faced by an existential threat will not hesitate to create a bloodbath. The communist regime can't afford to loose HK because "losing face" won't even begin to describe the situation. What's more, HK is not a defensible strong point. It can't ensure its supply lines and is dependent for its drinking water. Its enemy is a few kilometers away and has the second biggest fleet in the world. What HK has is soft power. It is a free trading zone that has benefits granted to it by the US government, and it has its reputation. However, the chinese government proved that it is ready to throw all these advantages to enforce its control over the island and to unify its nationalistic narrative. Therefore, this soft power is good for nothing.