Letters | With US visit, Joshua Wong just gave Beijing more reason to discredit Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement

It is totally inappropriate for Demosisto leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung to invite the US to intervene in the affairs of Hong Kong. Rational, sane leaders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement must speak up.

Wong has damaged the cause which he has so passionately championed and made huge sacrifices for. By making this statement, I mean no disrespect to the millions of Hongkongers who have legitimate concerns over growing Chinese influence on the financial hub.

It is one thing to testify before the United States Congress on China’s dismal human rights record. It is another thing to ask the US to intervene by urging Congress to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.

The timing of Wong’s appearance could not have been worse. China is locked in an intense trade war with the US. The people of China, especially those from the mainland, are understandably upset with the US.

The Chinese government is already under huge pressure domestically not to cede an inch to the US government. Now, it has to deal with the mess in Hong Kong. There is already a pre-existing gulf between Hongkongers and mainlanders. There is no need to further widen the divide.

China has whipped up nationalist feeling on the mainland by painting the anti-extradition bill movement as a campaign controlled by foreigners who want to harm the motherland. This charge against the movement has been widely discredited but would surely gain credence now.