Pro-Beijing camp’s landslide loss in district council elections ‘a chance for reflection’ on Hong Kong
- Commentators in mainland China say the poll might kick-start some deeper thinking on public opinion and the central government’s approach to the city
- High-profile tabloid accuses the West of helping opposition forces in the race
The pro-democracy camp, defined by their general support for the protests, won control of 17 out of the 18 district councils, all of which previously had a pro-establishment majority.
Beijing has accused the West, especially the United States and “opposition parties and politicians” in Hong Kong, of fuelling protests triggered by a now withdrawn extradition bill that have since developed into calls for democratic reforms and an investigation into police use of force against the protesters.
Mei Xinyu, an economist affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce, said on Monday morning that “the landslide defeat in the Hong Kong district council elections could be a good thing if it resulted in deep reflection”.
“The mess in Hong Kong and a big defeat in the district council elections will hopefully kick-start rumination on its own Zunyi Conference,” Mei said in an online post, referring to a meeting of Communist Party leaders in 1935 that resulted in a personnel reshuffle and endorsed Mao Zedong’s leadership of the party and military.