Letters | Does China’s state media claim to speak for all Chinese people?

Hong Kong protests

Letters

Published: 7:30am, 30 Sep 2019

Why you can trust SCMP

I refer to your report on a Xinhua article regarding the desecration of the Chinese flag by Hong Kong protesters (“Chinese state media condemns Hong Kong protesters who desecrate national flag, calling it ‘blasphemy’”, September 29). The report quotes the Chinese state news agency as saying, “Not only is this an intentional act of breaking the law, an insult to the country and race, it is also blasphemy against the entire Chinese people, including those in Hong Kong.”

Since when has the Chinese flag represented the Chinese race? Is this a slip of the tongue or does it underline a fundamental difference in the way Beijing views people who are ethnically Chinese from the way the rest of us do?

How do these people decide that they can speak for the entire Chinese people? And let’s not even go into the definition of “blasphemy” in a secular country.

I think something may have been lost in translation.

Andy Statham, Happy Valley

Reserve prices make a mockery of affordable housing pledge

Your paper has been filled recently with articles about whether economic issues, especially inflated property prices, are the main cause of the protests (“Scapegoats or scoundrels? Hong Kong tycoons’ ties with Beijing”, September 24). This view seems to have been embraced by the Chinese media, who have turned on our plutocrat tycoons, as well as the Hong Kong administration.

I was therefore surprised to read that yet another Kai Tak land auction was cancelled because it did not meet the government’s reserve price (“Hong Kong withdraws land sale as bids fall short amid public unrest”, September 25).

There is no faster way and more efficient way in the government’s arsenal of tools to bring down prices than to do away with the reserve price. Is there a policy disconnect within the administration, or is affordable housing just a slogan meant to effect an image of caring about livelihood issues?

Keith Noyes, Clear Water Bay

Hong Kong bill shows the US Congress does not get it

The passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 through the Senate and House of Representatives committees is laughable.

The US can be most useful by sounding a consistent line publicly and privately on the importance of Hong Kong’s autonomy and the preservation of its legal system, civil rights, etc.

Why the world is watching how Hong Kong’s protests may end

Amazingly, they have failed even at that under Donald Trump’s presidency. Creating a recurring drama over the special administrative region’s status merely sets up an annual exercise in undermining confidence in Hong Kong that will not impress Beijing. The existing law already makes clear the basis for Hong Kong’s status and therefore provides for revocation if Washington isn’t satisfied.

The creation of this act is all about Congress searching for a role to play but having no understanding of the rules of the game.

Mark Peaker, The Peak

Post