Opinion | Formation of Hong Kong National Party is the latest sign that China is losing Hong Kong’s young

At the height of the 1967 riots, the colonial government feared Beijing would cut off Hong Kong’s water and food supplies from the mainland. It sent missions to Japan and South Korea to explore the possibility of buying food there, but did not pursue the idea further after it realised Beijing had no intention of suspending food supplies to the city. At the time, 60 per cent of our food was imported from the mainland. The proportion has risen since then.

Last week, a group of Hongkongers calling themselves the Hong Kong National Party say they would not recognise the Basic Law and vow to use “whatever effective means” available to push for independence.

They and other advocates of Hong Kong independence are trying to do something the British government and the colonial administration considered 49 years ago a mission impossible – ignoring the mainland authorities and ensuring the city’s survival without mainland resources.

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For sure, advocates of Hong Kong independence do not represent the mainstream in the city. Nonetheless, Beijing would be foolish to take comfort in this fact, amid the growing sense of alienation among the city’s young people towards the mainland.

According to a tracking poll conducted by the University of Hong Kong’s public opinion programme, 43 per cent of 1,001 Hongkongers surveyed last month said they distrusted the central government, with the levels of distrust highest among the young; 75 per cent of those between 18 and 29 reported distrust, compared with 32 per cent among those aged 50 or above.