Eyebrows were raised when Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah brought up the issue of localism in his blog. Comparing it with the alumni’s sense of belonging at his high school, Tsang said it could be turned into a constructive force that binds society together. The positive view, different from the stance of the chief executive and Beijing, has renewed the debate on the politically sensitive issue.

The finance chief is right in saying that such a sense of pride in one’s own identity and tradition can exist anywhere from an entire country to a single school. But comparing school spirit with the rise of localism in a complicated political environment like ours is simplistic, if not naive. An example is the booing of the national anthem at a Hong Kong-China football match. It is obviously different from jeering the song of a rival school.

There is nothing wrong with promoting local culture and identity. The coexistence of different cultures and traditions across regions and races on the mainland shows localism and nationalism need not be mutually exclusive. But as different places defend their local identities and customs, few go to the extreme of staging hostile campaigns targeting fellow nationals from other regions, as seen in the local protests against mainland tourists. What makes it more disturbing is that some self-styled localism groups advocate the use of force for change, fuelling concerns that a pro-independence movement may be taking root in the city.