Exclusive | Beijing policies pushed young Hongkongers towards localism, Tiananmen sympathiser Bao Tong says
Most senior Communist Party official jailed in 1989 says he understands why younger generation is turning away from June 4 candlelight vigil
It is “understandable” for Hong Kong youngsters to shun the annual candlelight vigil to mark the Tiananmen crackdown given their overall frustration with Beijing after the Occupy protests, says Bao Tong, the most senior Communist Party official jailed in 1989.
In a telephone interview with the South China Morning Post last month, the former top aide to ousted party leader Zhao Ziyang said the Chinese leadership bore the biggest responsibility for the rise in recent years of anti-Beijing localism among Hongkongers.
Beijing has blamed Hongkongers for harbouring anti-China thoughts and called for national security laws to be enacted.
Bao challenged the claim. “The rise of localism is very obvious. I think it speaks of nothing but Hong Kong’s disappointment in Beijing’s failure to deliver its promise of ‘Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong’ and a high degree of autonomy,” he said.
