為何面對一個立心不良的政府，在79日佔領行動後寸步不讓，大家的後續行動居然是跟走私客對抗？與其討伐新界的小奸小惡，不是更應該衝擊立法會以及萬夫所指的特區政府，專注政改嗎？
答案是絕對的「不應該」。
為甚麼？
因為遊戲規則已經改寫。在年輕人眼中，泛民三十年來跟政府的交涉毫無寸功，新的抗爭已轉戰至問題根源：自己社區自己救，掃走離地的政治代理人。年輕人深明無人會幫手，必須自救，對手不單止勢力龐大、影響力強而且資源充足，但同時，他們亦知道真正抗爭力量在於市民的想法與意向。
過往數月來，這些年輕人開始喚起上水與屯門居民的關注，他們推動民間覺醒，令居民領悟到社區命運原來可以自決，一旦開拓了命運自決這種想像，引發的變革力量將不容小覷。
事實上不少人仍未跟上這股變革潮流，甚至分不清這些是否佔領行動的伸延。然而自決之風漸長，走私重災區的住民開始明白原來自己有能力光復家園，雖然他們未必完全認同行動者的直接抗爭，但整體上他們完全支持光復家園的主張。
這些行動人士視自己為光復社區的前鋒，他們明白警方受到政府默許，可以肆意採取任何手段對付自己，同時他們亦深明警方武力升級，光復家園的感召力就會越強。
以目前時局氣氛，挑釁警方出手易如反掌，只消現身在警方面前，已足夠令警方在傳媒前失控動武，令抗爭行動成為新聞。目前在屯門的光復行動非常成功，深受居民支持。行動組成員們都非常年輕，平均在27歲以下，政治觸覺敏銳，透過巧妙的團隊行動以及衝擊行為，令香港各大傳媒爭相聚焦報道，正視走私社區潰入骨髓的災情。
與此同時，必須明白這些高風險又簡陋的抗議行動絕不魯莽或者失控。行動者能夠精確地掌握推進和後撤的時機，這都是從旺角佔區修羅場上學到的經驗。星期日的光復行動，他們對警方行動模式了然於胸，單單現身在警察面前，已令對方再度失控躁狂。這不代表光復行動的成員好勇鬥狠，也不代表他們中了胡椒噴霧後依然大愛和平，確切地說，他們非常清楚警察早已成為政治爪牙，能肆意行使合法武力。雖然光復行動組令走私問題升級為全城焦點的策略頗見功效，可以預期警方將會佈下天羅地網去監控及打壓這些行動組成員。
請各讀者撫心自問，為何關注社區問題的民間團體，居然受到警方以對付黑社會甚至恐怖份子的規格「優待」？香港被心術不正之徒引入荒謬歪途，難道還未夠明顯嗎？
你或許不認同屯門或大埔的抗爭行動，誠然這些行動偏離了普選的主軸，但同時亦是普選之路重要元素之一。佔領行動或失民意支持，但光復行動逐漸於關鍵地區扳回民心。即使不理解這些行動，請勿嫌棄他們，如能力許可，懇請各位予以支持，每一分力量都無比重要。無論你的立場如何，請謹記他們也是同路人，縱然手法或有所迥異。
這種新的抗爭光譜，揭示了一場真正的社會變革正在展開。
（編按：Richard Scotford 為本地英文雜誌《bc Magazine》記者，他於上周日親身到屯門採訪反水貨客行動，期間遭到警員驅趕。本文原以英文寫成，2月9日刊於 Richard Scotford 的 Facebook 專頁，由熱心網民 Takki Ma 翻譯為中文，謹此致謝。英文原文附列如下，供讀者參閱。）
The big question is WHY did the protest in Tuen Mun happen?
Why, when we have a malign government that failed to be moved by 79 days of Occupy have many highly motivated young people turned to combating smugglers?
Isn't all this New Territories shenanigans just a sideshow to the main event which is political reform? Wouldn't their efforts be best served outside Legco facing down the government they hate so much? The answer to this question is a resounding NO!
Why?
Because all rules of the game have changed. In the eyes of the young people who make up these Direct Action Groups Pan Democrats have been dallying with the government for 30 years and achieved all but nothing. For them, it's an entirely new game and they are taking politics right back to the roots. Local politics for local people solving local issues. They are the masters of their own destiny now. Not distant politicians with political agendas that have been forged over decades. They know no-one is coming to save them. They know the force that they are fighting has enormous influence and resources, but they also know that real power lies within in the hearts and minds of the people.
Over the past few months these groups have begun to capture the hearts and minds of the residents of Sheung Shui and Tuen Mun. The currency they are dealing with is called empowerment. A community empowered to take charge of its destiny is a powerful force for change.
Admittedly, there are many in these areas that are still slow to catch up with their message and struggle to separate these groups out from Occupy, but the tide is turning. The people in these long suffering districts are slowly realising that they have the power to take their districts back. Certainly, they may not agree fully with the Direct Action Groups hardcore tactics, but they fully support their message.
These groups have taken it upon themselves to be the hammer that breaks down the door of local issues. They openly accept that the police are authorised, from the very top, to use whatever force is necessary to meet them, for they understand clearly that the harder the police hit them, the louder their message is amplified.
In the current climate, provoking the police is not difficult at all. Just being there is enough for the police to come out fighting and the trap is sprung. The media predictably jump all over it and their goal is achieved. For the Direct Action Groups the Tuen Mun operation was a complete success. Every news media organisation in Hong Kong now has the plight of these affected communities front and centre. This is all thanks to a small group of politically astute, hardcore protesters, none of which are much older than 27. Using a delicate blend of cooperation and confrontation they have bought a festering, hidden sore of Hong Kong life into the spotlight and laid it bare for everyone to see and solve. The locals thank them for it.
But let's be clear here, these maybe raw, high stakes protests, but they are in no way coarse or uncontrolled. It's a highly calculated balancing act between knowing when to push and knowing when to yield. This they learnt in the cauldron of the Mongkok Occupy. On Sunday, they played the police like an old fiddle. Just being there was enough to make the police go into hyper aggression once again. This doesn't mean to say that they relish conflict, nor does it mean to say that every time a person is pepper sprayed or arrested the group members aren't beside themselves with anger and anguish. Instead, it's an acute awareness that the police have long since set themselves up as a political arm of the government, therefore they are a legitimate political force to be manipulated at will. An amplifier as it were, which the groups turn on or off depending upon the timings for their message. No doubt the police will now be bringing all the sophisticated powers they have to monitor these new groups and curb them at every turn.
Just take a while to digest that. Civic groups set up specifically to encourage and support local issues and problems are now the focus of the police, as if they were terrorists or triads. Can there be any doubt that Hong Kong is being lead down the wrong path by malignant people?
This kind of Direct Action like we have witnessed in Tuen Mun and Tai Po, may not be your cup of tea. They are certainly not the main road to universal suffrage, but they are an essential part of it. While some say the Occupy lost public support, they have begun to win it back where it counts, in the districts. You may never fully understand them but don't shun them. If you can, please support them. They certainly need and want your support. Whatever your view, remember their goal is the same, even if their methods may differ drastically.
This protest spectrum is the sign that a genuine revolution in society is taking place.