I think the simple reality is that many nominally loyal, law abiding and peace loving Hong Kongers are prepared to tolerate, if not tacitly support the violence, in the hope that there genuine grievances will be attended too by LegCo as the price of buying back their support.
This is why I say that HK needs a proper leader and that a Technocrat like Lam is hopelessly out of her depth. It needs someone who knows how to play politics and someone who will set up an public inquiry, but make sure it remains their circus and focus's on the wrong doings of the protestors and identifying their overseas supporters.
Carrie sadly comes across like a hopeless infant teacher trying to control a class that is totally out of control.
Btw I suspect the UK General Election result is bad news for the rioters as Boris will need a post brexit trade deal with China, far more than he needs a protest movement in HK!
The so called 5 demands are just a road map to seek independent or semi-independent and to create anti-CCP/China/Chinese government in HK. The central government knew full well that there is no hope to change things on the ground til the HK people stand up to the rioters themselves. Until then, the central government would weaken HK and diversify its functions such as tourism, trading, and financial. Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Macau would be directly benefit to these changes.
Exclusive: Protest-free Macau to win financial policy rewards from China
Most people do not support violence. Violence is not something civilized/ normal societies crave. Right/left, Pro/anti China - all will say they oppose violence. At the end of the day, I think it is a given that violence is bad and something to be shunned - especially if there is rule of law in the land
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But the election results have done nothing to stop the violence. Rather it has emboldened the rioters to seek more drastic measures - Bombs and guns.
In that sense, the pro-dem voting, No-violence seeking voters of HK has indirectly given support to further Violence.
The vocal minority in HK is pro independence.
The silent majority of HK is pro-rioters.
If push comes to shove, the central government could intervene. The problem is many in Pro-Dems camp thinks that they could force the central government to cave. Many Hong Kongers overthink their importance to China. When it comes down to sovereignty, the central government would take a hard line no matter what.
After the mess in HK, I just don't see how the central government would even allow more leeway for direct election. I am pretty sure that the central government has lost faith in HK and is moving many functions of HK to other places. The central government has been mentioning article 23 in more frequency. The future of HK is bleak.
The central government is not weakening HK at all, rather as part of China's national and regional development plans HK will have to diversify just as all these other cities and regions have to and the China is making them all more economically resilient. That HK have not prepared itself for this longstanding need is the fault of their own lack of local leadership and vision, as well as the usual obstruction by vested big money interests. The anti-China camp and their rioters in HK are the ones weakening HK by introducing instability that makes for a bad business environment no matter what the major local industries are.
Yes it's very sad for me to say this. The importance of Hong Kong has diminish significantly due to China's rise. The GDP of Hong Kong was approx 1/6 of China's at the time of the handover. It is now approx 1/30.
The only importance Hong Kong plays is now in geopolitics. And that is only because of foreigners using it as such. Often using it as a pawn in the grand scheme of things!
It is sad that the pan-dem refuses to see that they are being played. And thinks their antics WILL enticed the foreigners in to help them. They are doomed to failure, as no foreign forces, even one as powerful as the USA would sacrifice their sons and daughters for their cause!
All these bills they are passing it's just smoke and mirrors. As it is now, the foreigners will play up to their cause and give a false impression the foreginers will come to their aid anytime soon. But as soon as Trump gets his trade deal done. They will be dropped like a led zepplin. Quicker these thugs reliase this the better it is for everyone.
That is not quite true. Some elements of the powers that be do desire to contain China and prevent it from developing into a more powerful country, all the better if it can be ruined like Iraq or Libya but just as good if it can be bogged down like India or Iran.