Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1914721/more-hong-kongs-radicals-push-independence-further-they-go
Hong Kong/ Politics

The more Hong Kong’s radicals push for independence, the further they go against mainstream view

National security legislation may not be on the way yet, but extremists who advocate separatism have crossed a red line

Beijing categorised the Mong Kok rioters as “radical separatists inclined towards terrorism”. Photo: AP

While many assumed that Beijing would push for national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law after the Mong Kok riot, comments so far from both Beijing and Hong Kong officials as well as pro-establishment political heavyweights have all suggested it is not quite the case yet.

But why?

People may have noticed the very different views between the official “not yet the right timing” line and “the sooner the better” remarks by certain non-official figures like Professor Lau Siu-kai, the academic who used to head the government’s advisory body, the Central Policy Unit.

While Beijing categorised the Mong Kok rioters as “radical separatists inclined towards terrorism”, the pan-democrats and some others put the blame on the government – in particular Chief Executive Leung Chung-ying – as the trigger for what happened at the start of the Chinese New Year.

The high-profile “separatist” branding of the rioters also served as a warning to Taiwan under pro-independence president-elect Tsai Ing-wen. In recent years, connections between some Hong Kong activists and their Taiwanese counterparts, especially during the 2014 Occupy movement, apparently touched a raw nerve in Beijing.

The central government’s alarm and worries over the “separatists” are understandable, although it could show more tolerance to those “localists” who are notorious for their hostility towards mainlanders but do not advocate Hong Kong’s self determination or independence. That could explain why it was willing to suspend further expansion of the scheme that allows residents of approved mainland cities to visit Hong Kong as individuals, rather than as part of tour groups.

Beijing is also getting more concerned about the tendency of some radical protesters to believe that breaking the law is acceptable when fighting for a claimed ‘great’ cause

But the issue of sovereignty is a red line that can never be crossed.

Beijing is also getting more concerned about the tendency of some radical protesters to believe that breaking the law is acceptable when fighting for a claimed “great” cause. That was what happened during the Occupy protests, and fresh calls are emerging from the pro-establishment camp for tougher legal punishment to severe as a deterrent.

But still, Article 23 is not yet on the way.

Some commentators have suggested that the hidden consideration is to avoid harming pro-establishment candidates’ campaigns in the coming Legislative Council election.

That may not be the only reason: Beijing may just need more time to let the public realise and accept the seriousness and urgency to prevent “separatism” before the Hong Kong government can kick-start the legislative process.

Last week, lawmaker Ip Kwok-him from the biggest pro-establishment party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, who is also a local delegate to the National People’s Congress, ruled out the possibility of tabling a motion urging the enactment of the national security law when attending the annual Chinese parliamentary meetings in Beijing in March.

Former security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has described the existing Article 23 bill as “toothless”. It may well serve as a reminder to the public that Beijing is not only waiting for a better timing, but will also take time to consider the need for a new bill that has “teeth”.

But on the other hand, it’s worth paying attention to the three open letters written to Hong Kong youth by four “young mainland people of the same age as their Hong Kong counterparts”, which went viral in major mainland social media recently.

Interestingly, the three letters, all bearing a very mild tone, were released through a WeChat account named “changanjian”, or “Sword of Changan Avenue” in Chinese. The account, believed to be close to the official political and legal affairs commission, shared one common theme: young people on both sides of the border share the same vision, so they should understand each other better for the good of the nation.

This suggested Beijing’s usual “two legs” approach in handling Hong Kong affairs: to isolate and be tough on the very few “radical separatists” while pacifying and showing tolerance towards the majority of Hongkongers, especially the youth.

However, whether they like Beijing or not, and with or without Article 23, the few radical extremists should understand that the more they are inclined towards violence and self determination – or even worse, independence – the farther they go against mainstream views.