HONG KONG
A top Beijing official has called challenges to Chinese rule of Hong Kong unacceptable -- the latest sign of displeasure at a small but growing voice of dissent in the territory.
The comments by Zhang Xiaoming, director of the central government liaison office in Hong Kong, came after the territory's chief executive, CY Leung, last month attacked publications published by the University of Hong Kong Students' Union that raised the matter of self-determination.
"We cannot allow [some people] to take the high degree of autonomy as an excuse to resist the central government's authority over Hong Kong, or to make speeches about Hong Kong independence, or even to openly resist the central government through illegal means," Zhang said late Wednesday, according to a Thursday report in The Standard.
A Feb. 2014 University of Hong Kong publication had included the line: "We need to defend the freedom of promoting independence of Hong Kong until death."
Zhang, speaking at the liaison office's spring reception, reiterated Beijing's support for Leung. He also condemned those who took part in last year's democracy protests that blocked roads for 79 days.
Zhang stressed that while Hong Kong is governed under the "one country, two systems" principle, it did not mean that the former British colony enjoys total autonomy.
While the city's young deserved more "love and care," they also needed "positive guidance" to help them understand the nation, Zhang said, according to a South China Morning Post report on the same event.
Many in Hong Kong are worried Beijing will seek to implement ideological measures into the education system to make students more patriotic after young people led last year's historic protests.
Referring to comments Chinese President Xi Jinping made about the young in December, Zhang said: "Priority should be given to the history, culture and national conditions... in the education of the young people."
Last year's 79 days of civil disobedience dominated Zhang's speech to more than 4,000 guests at the reception. Around 15 pro-democracy lawmakers received invitations to the event but only three attended.
One arrived but was refused entry because he was carrying a yellow umbrella, a symbol of the recent protests.
