New | Mixed feelings for Occupy Central among Hong Kong’s recent mainland migrants

Many of Hong Kong’s recent migrants from the Chinese mainland are struggling with mixed feelings as they witness massive pro-democracy demonstrations sweep the city.

“I have mixed feelings,” said one Baptist University student from the mainland. “I very much support the Hong Kong people in expressing their concerns. I both admire and envy them for having the ability to do so, but, on the other hand, I’m pessimistic about the outcome.”

The student, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions in the mainland, echoes a dilemma articulated by many recent migrants from the mainland the South China Morning Post has spoken to: sympathies for the demonstrators’ demands for political reform, and pessimism over their effects on Beijing’s mind and on Hong Kong’s political future.

Interest in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement has been widespread in the mainland despite record censorship efforts by officials.

Many who wrote about it online linked the protest movement with the Tiananmen student protests 25 years ago. Some even articulated calls for further political reform in the territory and wider China.

At least three people have been reportedly detained in the mainland as of Tuesday evening for posting such messages online.