Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1074431/protests-express-freedom-not-pro-independence-sentiment
Comment/ Opinion

Protests express freedom, not independence sentiment

Members of "We are Hongkongers, Not Chinese" wave Hong Kong Flag of the colonial era in front of Central Government's Liason Office on 1st October 2012. Photo:SCMP

Is there a rising pro-independence force in Hong Kong? To most locals, the answer is unequivocally no. The sentiments are clearly reflected in the consistently high public satisfaction with Beijing's policies on Hong Kong and the way the "one country, two systems" is implemented here. The public are indeed well aware that our success owes much to the fact that we are an inalienable part of China and, at the same time, our way of life can continue under a system totally different from the mainland's.

Chinese officials view the situation differently. They probably see the British colonial flags used in local protests as a sign of growing opposition to China's sovereignty in the city. A group with the name of the Hong Kong City-State Autonomy Movement may add to Beijing's worries that the campaign could gather more momentum. These developments may explain why two retired Chinese officials spoke up in the past few weeks. In his latest reply to this paper, Lu Ping, former director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said those who do not recognise they are Chinese should renounce their nationality. Asked about the matter yesterday before the new Legislative Council, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying did not say whether he thought there was a growing movement for independence, but said there was no need to use the colonial flags to express discontent. He would seek to minimise the negative impact arising from integration with the mainland.