Chinese leaders are apprehensive about Hong Kong becoming a "base for subversion" in view of the recent pro-democracy protests in the former British colony that attracted thousands of people, especially students, a Beijing-backed think tank official said.
Not only did Beijing "care about the practice of the 'one country, two systems' policy in Hong Kong", it also "cannot rest assured" as "it is worried that Hong Kong will become a base for subversion," said Prof Lau Siu-kai, a vice-chairman of the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies.
State leaders' fear that Hong Kong will become home to subversive activities is driving their push for a stronger understanding of "one country, two systems-- a guiding principle for the integration of Hong Kong and Macau with China," he said.
Lau, a former head of the Hong Kong government's Central Policy Unit, cited President Xi Jinping's remarks on a visit to Macau this month, when he told residents there to "adhere both to the one-China principle and respect the differences of the two systems".
In a radio interview yesterday, Lau said Beijing hoped Hongkongers would consider issues such as national security and the national interest more from a "one country" viewpoint.
He said Beijing's concerns were heightened by the "precarious international situation" and the tendency of some Hongkongers, including Occupy Central protesters, to challenge the central government's authority.
Chinese leaderships concerns arise out of the recently concluded 75 days long agitation in which thousands of people pitched tents occupying key roads demanding Beijing to rescind on a rule brought in by it to screen the candidates to contest the 2017 election for the Chief Executive.
Xi stood firm in rejecting the demand and declined to accept request of pro-democracy protests leaders requesting for a meeting to express their demand.
The agitators believe that Beijing would permit only candidates who owe allegiance to it.
