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Anti-mainland China sentiments
OpinionLetters

Letters | As Hong Kong protests rage on, mainland students in city left walking a fine line

  • Students from the mainland studying in Hong Kong universities face tough choices when it comes to protests
  • Any display of patriotism can see them harassed by locals, and support for the protesters would also have consequences

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Flags of the People’s Republic of China and its Hong Kong SAR flutter over Central. It is possible for students from the mainland to have learned uncomfortable facts about their government while in Hong Kong, while retaining patriotic affection for their birthplace. Photo: EPA-EFE
Letters
As Beijing marked the People’s Republic’s 70th anniversary on National Day, university students from the mainland also celebrated in Hong Kong, a city most distant from Beijing – both geographically and ideologically.

Students spontaneously shared their pride on social media over China’s military weaponry and economic gains. One mainland student at Chinese University put up the national flag on her dormitory window. But this behaviour allegedly sparked outrage among local students, who bullied her in a variety of ways. The victim soon wrote an angry post on WeChat reflecting every detail of her ordeal, but it has since been removed for unknown reasons.

The mixture of patriotism and so-called terrorism in Hong Kong has put Hong Kong-based mainland students in a peculiar position. The ongoing protests, which have nothing to do with them, have become a living lesson on democracy, and confused them about their status in Hong Kong.
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Many feel disgusted by the escalating violence within universities, where they wish to study in peace. Also, they must face transport inconveniences, safety concerns as Mandarin speakers or, worse still, the possible negative impact on the reputation and ranking of Hong Kong and its universities: this could affect their career or future studies, ironic when you consider their initial choice of Hong Kong as a springboard to greater opportunities.
Some of them also question the “flag-protection tours” in the city: is it out of the organisers’ sense of belonging, love for Chinese culture or justification for the central government’s authority? The first two are not incompatible with the protests, while the last shouldn’t be a reason for being bullied. The negative correlation between political turmoil and patriotism seems illogical.

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