Authorities worried about increasingly strident calls for Hong Kong independence are taking no chances ahead of a rare visit from one of Chinaโs top ranking officials, shutting down swathes of the city and reportedly gluing down pavement stones to quell the prospect of violent protests.
Mainland Chinese media have cited the visit by Zhang Dejiang, Chinaโs No. 3 and the first senior official to come since the 2014 Occupy democracy protests, as an example of Beijingโs concern and support for the Asian financial hub.
Yet tensions are so palpable that thousands of police have been mobilised to secure the city during Zhangโs visit, which begins today. Local media reported pavement bricks were being cemented to prevent them being used as missiles while police were camping atop a mountain where a pro-democracy banner was hung two years ago.
Independence, a taboo topic under both British and Chinese rule, has become increasingly mainstream subject in Hong Kong, with some activists calling for an outright breakaway from China, a move some politicians say would imperil the cityโs economic and political future.
โThese young people have no idea that they could be putting Hong Kong on a potentially dangerous collision course with the motherland and bringing an unmitigated disaster,โ wrote former top Hong Kong security official Regina Ip in an editorial in the state-run China Daily.
โSeparatism, or rather the anti-mainland doctrine in disguise, willโฆ doom Hong Kong.โ
The young activists see it differently.
โ(We) are facing a very great threat from China: Our culture, our language, our peopleโฆ we are dying!โ said Chan Ho-tin, the head of the newly-formed National party, expected to contest legislative elections in September.
โDo (Hong Kong people) want to be a Chinese city or do they want to be an independent country? There are only two choices.โ
Joshua Wong, who launched a new political party called Demosisto this year, wouldnโt rule out taking an independence line in upcoming campaigns.
โThe problem with young people is that they are not 100 percent pre-occupied with economic considerations,โ said Michael Tien, a Hong Kong delegate to Chinaโs parliament, the National Peopleโs Congress, which Zhang heads.
โA lot of young people saying they donโt want development, they want a better environment, they want better work-life balance, they want better quality of life.โ
โClosely monitoredโ
Hong Kong guarantees freedom of expression, but authorities havenโt ruled out taking action against pro-independence activists.
โAny suggestion that (Hong Kong) should be independent or any movement to advocate such independenceโฆ would be inconsistent with the legal status of Hong Kong,โ the Department of Justice (DOJ) told Reuters.
The DOJ said it was watching for โpossible criminal activitiesโ and would โclosely monitor the situation, maintain close liaison with the relevant law enforcement agencies, and take such action as may be necessary.โ
Hong Kong authorities said the โcounter-terrorism security measuresโ were needed to ensure the safety of dignitaries during the visit.
China is an umbilical cord for Hong Kongโs economy, with Chinese capital succoring financial markets and millions of Chinese visitors powering its tourism and retail sectors.
โActs in favor of Hong Kong independence harm the sovereignty and security of the country, harm the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and harm the fundamental interests of Hong Kong,โ Chinese Foreign Minister spokesman Hong Lei told reporters on Monday.
Hong Kong also relies on China for food, water and electricity, making independence almost impossible in practice.
โA lot of people in Hong Kong have jobs associated with the mainland,โ said Holden Chow, vice-chairman of the DAB party, Hong Kongโs largest pro-Beijing political party.
โIf there are no more economic tiesโฆthen where are the jobs? There would be a rise in unemployment.โ
Donโt vote for the โextremistsโ
While Hong Kongโs independence movement is perhaps more a reflection of worsening political divisions than a realisable goal, the challenge to Beijingโs authority is unnerving some.
Observers with close ties to Chinese officials say one of Zhangโs priorities will be establishing relations with more moderate democrats to lower the heat.
โHe will send a positive signal to any pan-democrat who is willing to have a dialogue with China,โ Tien said.
โThis must be one of his key missions: To make sure the signal is strong enough that the electorate wonโt lambaste the moderate pan-democrats and give all their votes to the extremists.โ
Words: Reuters
