‘Dangerous and inappropriate’: Hong Kong leader reprimands lawmaker for ‘stirring up conflicts’ with 2019 social unrest narratives
- John Lee responds to lawmaker Paul Tse’s remarks that residents not in mood to engage in large-scale events as he questions authorities’ law enforcement approach
- Lee says some of Tse’s words remind him of adjectives often used in ‘soft resistance’ and by ‘reactionary forces’ during 2019 unrest
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has warned against attempts to stir up conflicts through stories related to the 2019 social unrest after a lawmaker told him Hongkongers were depressed under the city’s “legalist rule”.
Sparks flew in the Legislative Council chamber on Thursday when veteran lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun spoke during the city leader’s question and answer session with legislators on coming home-grown national security legislation and how to drive the economy forward with mega events.
Tse, a lawyer, said Hongkongers felt “tense, heavy-hearted and joyless” and were not in the mood to engage in large-scale events as he questioned authorities’ law enforcement approach.
“Plain-clothes [officers] lurk and [ambush] residents who do not strictly follow the rules when crossing the road, heavy fines are imposed on restaurants obstructing streets, and there are constant and round-the-clock operations against bookstores and canteens in factory buildings,” Tse said.
He was apparently referring to recent complaints from several independent bookstores, which had sympathised with the 2019 anti-government protests, about being subjected to unusually frequent fire safety checks last month.
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The lawmaker also suggested that authorities had placed more importance on views voiced on Xiaohongshu, mainland China’s Instagram-like social media platform, than those of the taxpayers in Hong Kong.
“[Will the government] alleviate public grievances and ease the social atmosphere [marked by] legalist rule and harsh punishment, so that the people can be in a more relaxed and happy mood … and truly engage in the mega events in Hong Kong?” he said.
Lee replied that, although he agreed a balance should be struck in law enforcement and enabling economic activities, “disregarding a suitable law-abiding awareness” in the city must not become a “habit”.
But he suggested Tse’s comments about Xiaohongshu amounted to an attempt to stir up trouble in different places. Lee said it was “dangerous” to describe Hong Kong’s online promotion efforts to lure mainland visitors with a “provocative” narrative.
John Lee appeals to Hong Kong’s media to promote need for national security
“[In a time when] Hong Kong is governed by patriots, it is dangerous and inappropriate [for us] to not work together and instead promote information that is not positive and inconsistent with the facts. We should call it out,” Lee said.
“Some of the words used [by Tse] just now are even more dangerous, reminding me of the adjectives that are often used in ‘soft resistance’ and by reactionary forces during the 2019 [unrest].
“At the first sign of [these dangers], we must immediately strike back and stop them, not encourage them.”
Such heated exchanges have been rare since the 2021 Legco election that aligned with Beijing’s “patriot-only” principle for governance.
But it was not the first time Tse has accused the government of prioritising Xiaohongshu comments before those of Hongkongers – he filed a written inquiry on the subject in last week’s legislative meeting.
Tse played down the city leader’s rebuttal when he talked to reporters after the session and said whether his remarks constituted “soft resistance” would be judged by society.
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“[It is] about [views of] different perspectives. We both want Hong Kong to be good. It did not matter,” he said.
The city’s only non-establishment lawmaker, Tik Chi-yuen, said he would not be concerned that Lee’s remarks to Tse suggested that opposing views were not welcomed.
“But I do think a soft approach to handle different views would be more appropriate,” Tik added. “That will also apply to the government’s attempt at the Article 23 legislation.”
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Lau Siu-kai, consultant at semi-official Beijing think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said he was not worried Lee’s response to Tse would stop other lawmakers from asking “sharp” questions in the legislature.
“The Legislative Council has a role to monitor the government and represent the will of the people,” Lau said. “The Hong Kong government also needs to explain their actions and their attitude, so if there are some sparks and some sharp conversations, this is a good thing.
“If not, the Legislative Council will be seen as a rubber stamp.”
But Lau added the chief executive’s rebuttal of Tse’s comments would have been more effective if he had just debunked the lawmaker’s points.
He said he did not feel the lawmaker’s remarks would affect society’s stability.
Additional reporting by Harvey Kong
