Beijing prepared to accept the pain to ‘fix’ Hong Kong, observers say

China’s leaders believe in the Mao Zedong adage that ‘one hard strike now can prevent hundreds of punches later’, think tank deputy director says

But Beijing also ‘needs to demonstrate it is sincere when it says there will be room for loyal opposition’, academic says

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China’s leaders are prepared to weather the storm of foreign criticism to achieve their goals in Hong Kong, observers say. Photo Sun Yeung

William Zheng,Sarah ZhengandEduardo Baptista

Published: 2:00pm, 7 Mar 2021Updated: 4:35pm, 7 Mar 2021

Beijing is ready to face the short-term pain and possible backlash from the West to reform Hong Kong’s political system, which it sees as a chink in China’s national security armour, mainland observers say.

From prosecuting 47 Hong Kong opposition figures under the national security law to overhauling the city’s electoral system, Beijing is adopting a forceful approach despite strong protests from the United States and its allies.

Analysts say this shows that the central government is determined to “fix” the Hong Kong problem once and for all and will not accept using the issue as a bargaining chip in power games with the West.

Wu Junfei, deputy director of Hong Kong’s Tianda Institute think tank, said Beijing believed its existing approach would yield long-term political and social stability in Hong Kong, despite short-term pains, including possible foreign sanctions.

The US has already imposed sanctions on mainland Chinese and Hong Kong officials – including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor – whom it accuses of undermining the city’s freedoms and autonomy from Beijing.