'Anti-red' sentiment takes centre stage in Legco election for first time
Parties exploiting fears over influence of mainland culture on city and its core values, a trend that's likely to continue, observers say
For the first time, "anti-red" sentiment has taken centre stage in the city's politics amid the fight for Legislative Council seats - a battle that has mixed debate with mud-slinging - political observers say.
Candidates this year were not above "reddening" their opponents with smear tactics that linked them to the central government. The Civic Party, for one, has adopted the line, "Say no to a red Hong Kong" as its main campaign slogan.
The trend was likely to continue in years to come, the observers said.
The colour red is associated with the Communist Party and the mainland because it is the main colour on their flags. In local political parlance, those opposed to Beijing's influence on Hong Kong are "anti-red".
Political analyst James Sung Lap-kung of City University said the "reddening" tactics used by pan-democrats arose from public suspicion about Beijing's interference in Hong Kong affairs in recent years and fears of the mainland's intrusion into the city's culture.
"From Hong Kong's integration with the mainland to policies such as a quota scheme on cross-border private cars … Hongkongers feel mainland culture is threatening to erode Hong Kong's core values," Sung said.