Alaco

09.09.2016 | China’s meddling spawns Hong Kong separatists

Beijing’s attempt to stifle democracy in the former British territory lies behind the electoral success of pro-independence activists.

Hong Kong political activist Nathan Law has been basking in the media limelight after he and five other separatist candidates, known as localists, caused a political storm by winning seats in the territory’s semi-democratic Legislative Council (LegCo) elections.

The most high-profile and - at 23 - the youngest of the activists, Law said he would now push for a referendum to “decide Hong Kong’s sovereign status”.  It was a bold, if somewhat unrealistic, statement of intent given Beijing’s opposition to any form of independence.  But his ambition underlines the determination and zeal of the new legislators.

While they may be few, the localists, backed by around 20 per cent of voters, reflect a growing separatist mood in the global financial hub, born of anger with the Chinese authorities over their attempts to stifle democracy.  Pro-democracy politicians increased their presence in the 4th September elections, although Beijing loyalists remain in the majority, as they are automatically allocated just under half the seats.  However, the separatists’ success poses a serious challenge to Beijing as independence could now become a mainstream topic of debate in the territory, exacerbating tensions with the mainland.  For China, it is a problem of its own making.

In 1997 an agreement between London and Beijing granted the territory a high degree of autonomy for 50 years, with China maintaining ultimate control.  The so-called “one country, two systems” constitutional arrangement was broadly accepted by Hong Kong citizens.  Pro-democracy activists, known as pan-democrats, were seemingly content to campaign for greater political freedoms.  Few among them demanded self-determination, which they knew Beijing would not allow.   

But under the unpopular leadership of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, elected by a committee of business leaders and influential citizens mostly loyal to Beijing, the government appears to have been more concerned with appeasing China than protecting Hong Kong’s nascent democracy.  Fears over the territory’s future came to a head in 2014 when Beijing introduced new electoral rules requiring leadership candidates to be vetted by an election committee, likely dominated by Chinese loyalists.  Seen by many as backtracking on constitutional pledges that the Chief Executive and the LegCo would eventually be elected through a direct vote, the move sparked the unprecedented “Occupy” protests that caused months-long disruption in commercial areas.

China refused to budge over the election rules, but its intransigence backfired, effectively spawning the independence movement.  Law, one of the leaders of the demonstrations, and other protesters set up separatist parties that have appealed to youngsters who do not feel as beholden to China as their parents.  A poll organised in July showed that about 40% of people aged 15-24 supported independence after 2047, when Hong Kong’s constitution expires.  This new generation’s backing for the activists advocating separatism has grown amid China’s increasing attempts to curb dissent and civil liberties in the territory.

In one of the most alarming examples of the latter, late last year mainland security agents were suspected of abducting five men working for a Hong Kong publisher specialising in books critical of the Chinese leadership.  More recently, teachers have been warned not to discuss independence with their pupils, and in the run-up to last Sunday’s election, candidates had to sign declarations expressing their loyalty to China.  Five were barred despite doing so, because the authorities questioned their sincerity.  Even some of those permitted to run had their publicity materials censored and were prevented from opening bank accounts to receive campaign donations.

While Law and his fellow separatists are well aware that China will thwart any move towards independence, they believe they now have a mandate and a platform to at least promote debate over the issue.  But even this unnerves Beijing.  State-owned media have this week warned that “separatist ideas” could now be raised in the LegCo.

The last thing China needs is an emboldened independence movement in Hong Kong, as it already has its hands full tackling demands for greater autonomy in Tibet and the western region of Xinjiang.  But, as the last few years have shown, if it continues to meddle in the territory’s affairs, separatist voices might become an even bigger headache for Beijing in the run up to 2047.