Young Hongkongers Love Their Hometown

Xi gave a speech today, with Carrie Lam sitting on the far right

 

In his speech marking Shenzhen's 40th anniversary as a special economic zone, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged young Hongkongers to live, work and study in in the Chinese city, describing it as an "important engine".

"We must foster the integrated development of the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, and they must foster each other's development," he said.

"The party has high hopes for Shenzhen... It needs to push forward the bay area plan and enrich the new practices in the implementation of 'one country, two systems'. These are historic missions that the party is giving to Shenzhen in the new era."

Xi calls for HK, Macau to be closer to Shenzhen

The three cities are part of the Greater Bay Area, where the plan is to turn Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and eight other Guangdong cities into a technology and finance hub that rivals California's Silicon Valley by 2035.

It's interesting Xi has transplanted the phrase "one country, two systems" in the context of Shenzhen which doesn't make much sense, but the push to further integrate Hong Kong and Macau into the fold is evident.

But how will it all square?

Macau is mostly a gambling town, while Hong Kong is a finance and services hub. It's a wonder how Macau can help foster the development of Hong Kong and Shenzhen...

In his speech, Xi also encouraged the authorities to encourage Hong Kong's young people to seize opportunities on the mainland.

Xi says Shenzhen is an "important engine"

"We must attract more Hong Kong and Macau youth to study, work and live on the mainland, and boost interaction and communication between youth in Hong Kong and Macau with those in Guangdong, to bring their hearts closer to the motherland," he said.

That might be difficult given that most young people were out protesting against the government last year, and currently the local authorities are criminalizing the youth in the city. The police harass and intimidate young people and last year over 750 were arrested during the protests, one as young as 12 years old.

Opposition lawmaker Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the Democratic Party, said it was "ridiculous and laughable" to suggest that Hong Kong youth would be more patriotic if they worked or studied on the mainland.

Hundreds of young people arrested in 2019

"When the mainland government suppresses Hong Kong's freedoms, and Hong Kong young people don't trust it, how can they be attracted to work or live on the mainland?" he asked.

And now with the new national security law, young Hongkongers are even more worried about crossing the border, and also the practical reality of lower pay and job prospects there with so much competition on the mainland.

So it will be even harder for Beijing to entice young people across the border, unless they are in the tech field or are genuinely interested in working in China.

Young people love Hong Kong because they feel it is becoming mainlandized and are determined to protect it from what they see as further erosion rights and freedoms, the way of life that they cherish deeply.

Young people really love Hong Kong

While their passion may be a fruitless cause in the end, last year's protests was their political and social awakening. They will never forget what happened and it will never be washed from their memories. China must address and accept these tensions before moving forward, but knowing the CCP, it will try to desperately sweep things under the carpet as if they never happened.

So its grandiose plan of integrating Hong Kong into the mainland will continue to be filled with political tension. Beijing has been warned.