Beijing’s friends come to Central

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I like Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing rallies – they make you feel so young, worldly, handsome, well-dressed, and blessed with free will. And at yesterday’s gathering in support of the Chinese government’s ‘interpretation’ of the Basic Law and against Hong Kong independence, the United Front pulled out all the stops.

While the organizers’ claim of 40,000 was an exaggeration, the turnout certainly hit five figures. And unlike with some of the anti-Occupy gatherings in 2014, the crowd looked a bit more authentic.

My brief survey revealed few if any Indonesian ladies, Pakistani illegals or other obviously non-credible marchers-for-rent, and not too many late-stage dementia cases dragged out of nursing homes. Plenty were clearly bussed-in from the Mainland, and most of the rest were gnarly rustic types mobilized for a rare trip to the urban areas. No doubt many were paid to turn up, but I would guess that at least half had a clue as to why they were there, and some were sincerely riled about Hong Kong’s unpatriotic splittist radicals.

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The good news is that if this is the Communist Party’s authentic power base in Hong Kong, it is a sorry sight. It is a different planet from a pro-dem protest. While typical localists – we are often reminded – are too young to remember British rule, most of this pro-Beijing demographic will hit average life expectancy in a decade or two. From that, we can infer a significant gap in educational standards and worldview, and perhaps wit and verve. Without wishing to be churlish (and allowing for the age difference), the pro-interpretation folk brought an unmistakable ugliness into town. No fault of their own, maybe, but they are a scowling and grumpy or just plain nasty bunch. Lacking the nerve to point a phone at the Really Scary ones, I captured only the photogenic.

The nearest the pro-Beijing camp could get to youthful, sophisticated and hip were the politicians who were wheeled in to recite the official lines…

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It would be impossible to make Maria Tam glam, to bring out Priscilla Leung’s inner cute babe, or to turn intellectual mouse Michael Tien into a rabid firebrand. But in these surroundings, with their limited time-span, you get a glimmer. And, apparently, this is the best the United Front can do.

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14 Responses to Beijing’s friends come to Central

  1. “Proud to be Chinese” makes about as much sense as “proud to be alive” – it’s a given state, not an achievement. And the protester who said “They are not Chinese” is unwittingly echoing the localists’ argument that Hong Kong is not China – though drawing very different conclusions from it.

  2. HillnotPeak says:

    Can’t Maria Tam take up knitting?

  3. LRE says:

    Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons

  4. Cassowary says:

    Knitters don’t want Maria Tam. May I recommend taxidermy?

  5. or preferably self-taxidermy…

  6. Joe Blow says:

    or maybe Maria can eat herself to death *giggles like Paul Tse*

  7. Chinese Netizen says:

    Old Newcomer @ 2:11 nailed it.

  8. Joe Blow says:

    Today the HSI closed at 22222.22. I shit you not. *giggles uncontrollably like Paul Tse and pisses pants*

  9. Cassowary says:

    @Old Newcomer: But how would you tell the difference?

  10. Fruity Bun says:

    What do we want? “Less choice!”

    When do we want it? ” That’s not up to us!”

  11. Joe Blow says:

    Irresistable tid-bit du jour: the hoki from New Zealand they sell at Hooked is exactly the same fish they put in a McDonald’s filet-o-fish.. The only difference is in the price.

  12. Colonial Dinosaur says:

    People forget why Maria TAM was removed from Exco when heading the Transport Advisory Committee which set licence fees for taxis, minibuses et al… oh yes, now I remember, it was because her family thro’ her brother, a well known office bearer of the 14 K Triad, controlled or owned most of the routes and taxis in Kowloon! Such a patriot and well respected figure in our soceity….

  13. Joe Blow says:

    @Colonial Dino: I can do better: Rita Fan’s father was the Al Capone of Shanghai before WWII. Well-documented history. Probably murdered more people than Alphonse himself. Not sure if he was a baseball fan too.

  14. oberon says:

    These people are like chickens supporting and voting for Colonel Sanders.

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