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NPC chairman Zhang Dejiang (second from left) warns clashes such as Mong Kok riot could hurt Hong Kong’s economic development. Photo: Xinhua

‘Street politics could tarnish Hong Kong’s image,’ NPC chairman Zhang Dejiang warns

NPC chairman warns clashes such as Mong Kok riot could hurt HK’s economic development

Hong Kong should avoid politicising its economic problems and resorting to “street politics” as it will tarnish the city’s image and scare off foreign investors, the state leader overseeing Hong Kong affairs warned yesterday.

National People’s Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang (張德江) also praised Hong Kong people for being intelligent, and said they understand that the city’s success was built on its economic achievement and its proximity to the mainland.

“The opportunity must not be lost, because it might not come back again,” Zhang was quoted as saying in a closed-door meeting with about 30 Hong Kong deputies to the NPC yesterday morning.

Zhang was speaking a day after Beijing pledged in a draft of its latest five-year plan that Hong Kong will play a bigger role in the nation’s development. Backing will be given to boost the development of the city’s technology sector and the legal and arbitration services, the plan reads.

READ MORE: Chair change shows Hong Kong deputies no longer in the driving seat at National People’s Congress

Citing Zhang, NPC deputy Maria Tam Wai-chu said: “Hong Kong’s status was obtained by its economic achievements … Therefore, boosting the economy comes first; and economic problems should not be politicised.”

Last month, hundreds of protesters clashed with police in a violent disturbance in Mong Kok, and Beijing officials branded the rioters as “radical separatists”.

In a by-election three weeks later, localist Edward Leung Tin-kei, 24, who was arrested in relation to the mayhem, stunned pundits by winning more than 66,000 votes, coming third.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying concluded his four-day visit to the capital last night. Before leaving Beijing, Leung had a meeting with Zhang and said the NPC chairman was “shocked” by the Mong Kok riot.

A rioter throws bricks at police in Mong Kok. Photo: AP
“He was shocked that such a violent and anti-social incident could happen in a lawful and civilised society,” Leung said. “[Zhang] also said it pained him to see many policemen and journalists getting hurt during the incident.”

Leung added that the chairman recognised the SAR government and the police’s handling of the riot, saying it was “decisive”.

Another NPC deputy Brave Chan Yung said Zhang made reference to the riot during the meeting.

“Zhang said that with an intelligence quotient as high as 130, could Hong Kong people not be clear on what is good for Hong Kong, and whether they could have good days ahead if the city descends into chaos?” Chan said.

Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, Hong Kong’s sole representative on the NPC’s standing committee, added that “Zhang said the Mong Kok riot was not only about Mong Kok, as young people in many countries are unhappy” with their problems such as employment and housing.

Fan said Zhang also praised Leung and his government for demonstrating a sense of responsibility in the face of various challenges.

READ MORE: Protect the rule of law, NPC chairman Zhang Dejiang tells Hong Kong

On Friday, Zhang said in a meeting with Hong Kong delegates to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the nation’s top advisory body, that Hong Kong must maintain an environment that is good for business and “not to appease acts that challenge the rule of law”.

Commenting on Zhang’s call for Hong Kong to seize economic opportunities offered by the mainland, Ivan Choy Chi-keung, political scientist at Chinese University, believed it indicated that Beijing doesn’t wish to keep accommodating to the city.

“The central government will not feel it’s a particular loss if Hong Kong cannot adapt and becomes marginalised as a result,” he said.

Billy Mak Sui-choi, associate professor at Baptist University’s Finance and Decision Sciences department, recent events such as the Mong Kok riot, would certainly affect foreign investors’ confidence in Hong Kong.

“Objectively speaking, political instability would hamper the business environment,” Mak said.

He added that, while it’s not impossible for the city to develop economically without relying on the mainland, going solo would be a much more difficult path to take.

“Many European countries, such as the UK, are cooperating with China economically… So why do some people in Hong Kong still feel averse to the idea?”

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