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Hong Kong protests
OpinionComment
Billy Huang
Billy Huang

Opinion | As Hong Kong protests spark clashes among overseas Chinese, the way to mainland hearts and minds lies via the moral high ground

  • Nationalistic mainland Chinese overseas may not have the full picture on the reasons driving the protests in Hong Kong and further afield
  • It is up to supporters of the movement to provide that context, so that today’s opponents can become tomorrow’s supporters

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Illustration: Craig Stephens
Billy Huang
Last Sunday, an estimated 1.7 million people joined the mass protest in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. The rally was peaceful, showing the world that Hongkongers can advance or retreat as required. More amazingly, protesters apologised for the sporadic violence and inconvenience caused to the public at the airport.
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That apology helped reinstate my confidence in the resilience and adaptability of Hong Kong protesters. Yes, violence will only invite fear and doubt but apology ensures understanding and support. 

Clashes between supporters of Hong Kong and Beijing have spilled over to other parts of the world popular with Chinese diaspora, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

On July 29, pro-Hong Kong demonstrator Serena Lee was pushed to the ground in an on-campus brawl with pro-Beijing students at the University of Auckland. The video showing her fall made media headlines, but what struck me was that, at the very beginning of the video, two mainland Chinese students threatened her on camera, saying: “You cannot win either a physical or a verbal fight, why do you bother to protest?”

In comparison, the pro-Beijing students on Australian campuses seemed more “creative”. On August 16, when a demonstrator called out “Hong Kong stay strong”, her slogan was greeted by a big group of mainland Chinese students shouting obscenities in perfect synchronisation.

But if there were a tournament to display state machismo for their beloved China, the “little pinks” in Canada would win hands down. While their comrades in Australia and New Zealand used curses and punches against Hong Kong youth, the mainland Chinese students in Canada got into their luxury cars.

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