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Bookseller Lam Wing-kee (centre) takes part in a protest march with pro-democracy lawmakers and supporters in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters
Opinion
Public Eye
by Michael Chugani
Public Eye
by Michael Chugani

Can Hong Kong’s leaders now win back the hearts and minds of the people?

Amid claim and counterclaim, most Hongkongers believe bookseller Lam Wing-kee’s tale of abuse at the hands of mainland Chinese agents

China has lost Hong Kong – not in terms of sovereignty, but its hearts and minds. Pride in being Chinese after decolonisation has turned to distress at the disregard for local values by the new rulers.

Of what use is control over those whose loyalty you don’t command? Localist and separatist groups are a natural magnet for some but not all of the lost hearts and minds. Beijing should be thankful for that.

Although proud of their culture and core values, most Hongkongers are realists. They felt betrayed when Beijing hit them with a harshly worded 2014 policy document and a restrictive one person, one vote framework for the chief executive election. But being realists they accepted they had little leverage in changing Beijing’s bottom line. What despairs them is that Beijing doesn’t seem to get it that Hongkongers have a bottom line too.

In their minds, the midnight knock on the door has now morphed from myth to reality

That bottom line was crossed when mainland agents nabbed five booksellers, one allegedly kidnapped from here, for books critical of Chinese leaders. Seizing Hongkongers, then blindfolding and bundling them off to secret locations for months of interrogations and TV confessions is just too alien to local culture. It thrust a dagger into the heart of “one country, two systems” – the last refuge of those who fear mainlandisation. In their minds, the midnight knock on the door has now morphed from myth to reality.

What’s noteworthy about the propaganda war of claims and counterclaims following bookseller Lam Wing-kee’s shocking tale of abuse by mainland agents is that most Hongkongers have chosen to believe Lam. Local and mainland leaders need to ask themselves why.

In every crisis lurks an opportunity. Lost hearts and minds can be lured back. Do our leaders know how? Clearly, the in-your-face commentaries by mainland mouthpiece Global Times is not the way. How many hearts and minds were lost when it pressured Lancome to scrap a concert by Occupy supporter Denise Ho Wan-sze? Was it worth it to provide such easy pickings for independence groups?

I have said I am not convinced the order to seize the booksellers came from the very top of the mainland leadership. I remain unconvinced. The five are small fry. We can breathe easier if I am right. But we need proof. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying must do more than just relay Hong Kong’s concern to Beijing. Only truth and atonement can stop the haemorrhaging of hearts and minds.

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