Hong Kong’s radical young politicians need to grow up and learn some respect

Mike Rowse says the antics of pro-democracy protesters at the Golden Bauhinia statue were ill-mannered and politically counterproductive, as being at odds with Beijing serves neither the people nor the chances of success for new leader Carrie Lam

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Joshua Wong and other Demosisto party members shout slogans after draping a black cloth on the Golden Bauhinia statue, on June 26. Protests such as these are likely to be interpreted by Beijing both as an objection to Hong Kong being restored to China, and as a deliberate, calculated insult to the president. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:03pm, 2 Jul 2017Updated: 6:06pm, 2 Jul 2017

Well, here is a sentiment I could never foresee myself experiencing, let alone putting down on paper, but here goes: I completely agree with pro-Beijing lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan.

A group of protesters led by Joshua Wong Chi-fung of Demosisto went to the Golden Bauhinia statue in Wan Chai last week and draped a black cloth over it. Quat, a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, described his action as “childish and disrespectful”. Indeed it was.

China’s resumption of sovereignty was historically inevitable and morally just. It is also irreversible [and] worth celebrating

The group said the purpose was to protest against the central government’s grip on civil society. They also called on people to turn out for the annual protest march on July 1 and give voice to their desire for democracy. But there can be a difference between the claimed motives of people, and the way their actions are perceived by others.

In this case, the express purpose of the statue is to commemorate Hong Kong’s reunification with the motherland. Moreover, as the protesters well knew, President Xi Jinping (習近平)was scheduled to attend a ceremony at that very spot on reunification day.

President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan greet the crowd upon arrival in Hong Kong on June 29. Photo: Xinhua

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The protest was, therefore, likely to be interpreted by Beijing both as an objection to Hong Kong being restored to China, and as a deliberate, calculated insult to our president. This action was therefore politically counterproductive, as well as being ill-mannered.