Critics lash out at protestors for jeopardizing HK's future

BEIJING - Critics of different countries have denounced the illegal gatherings of the Occupy Central movement and criticized protestors for resorting to violence and jeopardizing Hong Kong's future.

The protests in Hong Kong's busiest areas since Sept. 28 have led to serious traffic disruption, temporary closure of schools and banks, and slumps in the benchmark Hang Seng Index, impacting the region's economic prosperity and social stability.

Martin Jacques, a Guardian columnist, wrote a commentary titled "China is Hong Kong's future - not its enemy" on Wednesday.

He said in the commentary that it should be remembered that for 155 years until its handover to China in 1997, Hong Kong had been a British colony, forcibly taken from China at the end of the first Opium War.

All its 28 governors under the colonial rule were appointed by the British authority, Jacques said, adding that democracy was actually introduced to Hong Kong by the Chinese government.

In 1997, the latter adopted the Basic Law, which included the commitment that the chief executive of Hong Kong will be elected by universal suffrage in 2017.

Over the last 17 years since the handover, China has honored its commitment to the principle of "one country, two systems."

Pierre Picard, an expert on China from the University of Paris-VIII, told Xinhua on Wednesday that some Western countries used double standards on the Occupy Central movement and interfered in China's internal affairs, which was "astonishing."

What should be concerned about is that why the Occupy Central happened three years before 2017 and who use it to undermine the democratic process of Hong Kong and the stability of China, Picard said.

He stressed that people should be wary of the real motives of the Occupy Central organizers.

Fang Yan, a critic in New York, said the Occupy Central organizers oppose to list "love China, love Hong Kong" as a requirement for Hong Kong's chief executive candidates.

These organizers intend to get rid of the leadership of the central government with the support of foreign powers and try to turn Hong Kong into a certain kind of independent political entity.

Fang said since Hong Kong's return to China, the mainland and Hong Kong have been closely linked, sharing weal and woe. Hong Kong not only needs support and assistance from the central government, but cooperation with other provinces and municipalities in various areas.

If one who does not love China were elected as Hong Kong's chief executive, the very first victim would be Hong Kong itself, Fang added.