My Take | There's method in the message madness

Whatever you say about the mainland and its allies in Hong Kong, they have message discipline. Maybe too much discipline!

In just this week, I have come across at least three different people who said the same thing: the new free-trade zone in Shanghai will threaten Hong Kong's premier status as a trade and financial hub. Unless we in Hong Kong show unity and improve our economic competitiveness, we will be left behind. And all three then go on to criticise Occupy Central or local democratic politics.

The same sentiment was sounded by Wang Guangya , director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, who said Hong Kong should think deeply about whether it wanted to focus on political struggle or economic development.

Oh, actually, I lost count. A senior pro-Beijing figure at a dinner hosted by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying this week made exactly the same points to fellow guests, among whom were several pan-democrats. Gag rule prevents me from naming him or her, however.

Whenever mainland officials have to put a point across, it will have as many people as possible repeating the same thing over and over. That's united-front messaging, after which you get so tired your resistance is eventually broken and the message is drilled into your synapses.