Radical protesters do not represent entire Hong Kong youth, Beijing’s top diplomat in city says, and calls for patriotism and perseverance

Xie Feng, commissioner of Ministry of Foreign Affairs office, says political crisis has pushed Hong Kong into its most dangerous situation since handover

Some young people have lost themselves by taking part in street violence and illegal activities, he warns

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Xie Feng urged the city’s youth to embrace opportunities brought on by China’s rise on the global stage. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 7:18pm, 23 Dec 2019Updated: 7:45pm, 23 Dec 2019

Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong said on Monday that radical protesters were only in the minority and did not represent the entire younger generation in the city.

In a show of faith in the city’s youth despite the ongoing anti-government protests, Xie Feng, commissioner of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs office, said patriotism and perseverance were needed if Hong Kong hoped to weather the storm.

“The political crisis in the past six months has pushed Hong Kong into its most dangerous situation since the handover,” Xie said.

“Some young people have lost themselves by taking part in street violence and illegal activities, vandalising, setting fires and assaulting police or citizens, as well as desecrating the national flag and waving foreign ones or begging for outside intervention.

Restaurants and shops have been vandalised during protests. Photo: Sam Tsang

“We feel angry and disheartened at these incidents, but I still believe that the black-clad mobs are only a minority, and they do not represent the youth of Hong Kong.”

The protests, which were triggered by the now-withdrawn extradition bill in June and morphed into wider calls for democratic reform, have raised questions over long-term governance in Hong Kong and reconciliation with young people.