Pro-Beijing forum attacks advocacy of Hong Kong's special identity
Defenders of local culture and advocates of autonomy for the city are dismissed as having psychological problems during pro-Beijing forum
A recent outspoken defence of local culture was the result of a "psychological imbalance" among Hongkongers who felt powerless when faced with the mainland's economic growth, said speakers at a pro-Beijing forum yesterday.
They said such sentiments about Hong Kong's identity were an insignificant dead end and that their advocates were only giving vent to their anger and "abasement".
The event, organised by the Hong Kong Development Forum, was intended to "rethink the rise of nativism", and was hosted by Hang Lung Properties chairman Ronnie Chan Chichung.
Professor Lau Siu-kai, former head of the Central Policy Unit think tank, and lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said Hongkongers had long felt superior to people across the border, but that with the mainland's growth they feared they were losing their edge. They also felt their interests were being harmed by travellers buying up stocks of infant formula milk and causing a shortage of maternity beds.
They are two sides of the same coin - pride and abasement. The city's leader should look at this psychological issue among Hongkongers and see how we can boost our confidence again
"They are two sides of the same coin - pride and abasement," Ip said. "The city's leader should look at this psychological issue among Hongkongers and see how we can boost our confidence again," she said, adding that some people were "fantasising some collective memory".
Lau said the campaign had no clear objectives or strategies and lacked a powerful leader.