CY Leung urges young Hongkongers to 'fight back' against radicals

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying turned combative yesterday, telling a youthful audience it was time for the public to "fight back" against radicals in the city.

Without specifying whom he was referring to, he said allowing such people to hold his job would not be in the interests of the city.

His comments came on the last day of a consultation on the 2017 chief executive poll, amid complaints from pan-democrats that the electoral system would likely bar critics of Beijing from the race.

The venue was also significant. Leung was addressing a forum organised by the government's Commission on Youth, days after Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs told local representatives to step up their youth work after last year's student-led Occupy protests.

Leung faced questions from 300 people in their 20s, selected by the organiser, on everything from education and jobs to housing and the political deadlock.

"If young people with radical views dominated the development of the city or became leaders … I believe it would not be in the interests of society," Leung told the forum in Chai Wan.

He then called on those who supported the administration to voice opposition to the radicals and their illegal acts.

"What should we do to have less radical behaviour in society?" he asked. "I think we need public opinion to fight back."

He reiterated that neither Hong Kong nor Beijing would allow the public to nominate candidates in 2017. The task will be left to a committee of 1,200 that must give majority approval to the two or three candidates. Pan-democrats say voters won't get a real choice under that system.

Leung also addressed housing, saying the government could waive land premiums and spend public money on infrastructure to increase the supply of land for homes on the city's outskirts. But such ideas would still face opposition from local residents.

"There are many voices in society opposing development here and there … and some will try to delay decisions at the Town Planning Board or file judicial review [applications]," he said.

Leung's remarks follow his return from meeting state leaders on the sidelines of the annual National People's Congress session.

Local delegates to the NPC heard a call from NPC chairman Zhang Dejiang , the top state official on Hong Kong matters, to step up youth work by promoting national education and understanding of the Basic Law. Other state leaders have made similar calls, including President Xi Jinping , whose comments on youth work in Macau during a visit in December were widely thought to be aimed at Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, about a dozen students protested outside Leung's forum over the appointment of Executive Council member Andrew Liao Cheung-sing to head the University of Science and Technology's council. Leung took a detour to avoid them.

The HKUST student union questioned Liao's credentials and expressed worries about academic independence, given Liao was a staunch Leung supporter. A government spokesman said the administration had "abided by the 'meritocracy' principle" in identifying the right candidate.