Loyalty card: state leader’s ‘soft’ take on localism during Hong Kong visit surprises analysts
But Zhang Dejiang was keen to stress again that calls for self-determination or independence would not gain momentum
The distinction made by Beijing’s third highest-ranking official between localism and independence was striking, according to analysts who weighed in on Zhang Dejiang’s warning against calls for self-determination.
On Thursday, before leaving, Zhang said for a second time that Hong Kong was “doomed to be rotten” and everyone would pay a price if locals focused not on economic development but street politics.
“Things like self-determination or Hong Kong independence would not gain any momentum at all,” Zhang said. “That’s my judgment.”
A day earlier, he drew a line between independence and localism, saying the latter was fine but the former was merely “secession in the name of localism”.
State leaders had never commented on localism in a positive manner. Zhang did not shy away from this issue
Analysts said Zhang was speaking in the softest possible manner, to the extent that local sentiments as defined by loyalty or love for one city’s were welcomed so long as the Basic Law – which stipulates Hong Kong as an “inalienable” part of China – was respected.
“State leaders had never commented on localism in a positive manner. Zhang did not shy away from this issue,” said Professor Qi Pengfei, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies.