Diplomats walk a fine line as Hong Kong protests grip world's attention
As Hong Kong's unprecedented civil disobedience movement enters its fifth week, the city's diplomats find themselves in a unique, yet tricky, position.
To a diplomat, taking care with words should be second nature. But as Hong Kong's unprecedented civil disobedience movement enters its fifth week, the city's diplomats find themselves in a unique, yet tricky, position.
The Occupy Central movement that has gripped the world has given the 61 consulates in one of the busiest diplomatic hubs an even higher profile. But diplomats must tread a fine line as local and central authorities speak darkly of unspecified "foreign interference".
"The consulates need to be here even more in order to report back," University of Science and Technology political science professor David Zweig said.
But the situation was complicated by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's vow last week to unmask "foreign forces" behind the protests, amid allegations Occupy organisers had been funded by overseas organisations.
The Sunday Morning Post approached scores of diplomats for their views, though most refused to comment on such a sensitive topic. Those who did spoke only on condition of anonymity.
One diplomat was highly critical of Leung's failure to back up his comments with evidence. "You have to immediately show proof otherwise you lose credibility," the diplomat said.