Opinion | Beijing’s tougher stance on Hong Kong’s unrest is damaging big business and the free-market economy

Following the recent gathering at Beidaihe, a seaside resort where Chinese officials have closed-door talks every year, Communist Party leaders seem to have reached a consensus: tough strategies will be applied to deal with the unrest in Hong Kong. Beijing’s attitude towards the crisis has hardened over the past three months, and it is now warning of “signs of terrorism” in Hong Kong.

It is no secret that the People’s Armed Police have gathered in Shenzhen. US President Donald Trump confirmed the deployment of Chinese troops “to the border” on Twitter, and urged President Xi Jinping to handle the Hong Kong situation humanely.

Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, finally made a public appearance in Shenzhen after his office called two press conferences about the protests in Hong Kong. His main task was to pressure pro-Beijing politicians and businessmen into showing support for the government and police.

Under the military threat, the real estate developers have bowed to political pressure, taking out advertisements and issuing statements. The Real Estate Developers Association has taken a strong stance on the need for law and order. Tycoons like Peter Woo Kwong-ching have been spotted at a “No Violence, save Hong Kong” rally.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a warning to the airline, after one of its pilots was charged with rioting and a significant number of its employees joined citywide strike action. After the mainland banned Cathay employees who had supported or taken part in the protests from operating flights in its airspace, the airline said it had dismissed the pilot charged with rioting and other employees.