According to a poll published on Tuesday by the University of Hong Kong’s Public Opinion Programme, 35 percent of Hong Kong residents support Taiwanese independence, the highest percentage since 1994.
However, there is one other figure that is particularly noteworthy for Taiwanese: 67 percent of Hong Kong residents aged between 18 and 29 support Taiwanese independence.
The proportion of young Hong Kongers supporting Taiwanese independence is in line with the recent wave of localist fervor in Hong Kong and the emergence of a Hong Kong independence movement.
In the New Territories East by-election, a constituency predominantly comprised of young Hong Kongers, localist group Hong Kong Indigenous performed outstandingly, which shows how much the youth in Hong Kong resent China.
They detest not only the Chinese administration, but also China, the nation, and the politicians that have anything to do with it.
The reason that Hong Kong youth hate China so much and support Taiwanese independence is that the young generation of Hong Kongers grew up in the Internet age and have a high level of English proficiency, which allows them to read not only local news, but also news from around the world. Through the Internet, they gain a better understanding of the real history and situation of Taiwan. This is also why young Hong Kong residents have little trust in mainstream media: They say that those who watch Television Broadcasts Ltd are unintelligent.
Moreover, throughout their daily lives, they see the faces of the nouveau riche, but still uncivilized, Chinese tourists, which is why Hong Kong’s youth are becoming pro-independence.
It is valuable for Taiwanese that so many young Hong Kongers are supporting Taiwanese independence, as they are to eventually become the masters of Hong Kong.
If Taiwanese show Hong Kong’s youth and their pro-independence stance respect, in the future they would surely join Japanese as Taiwan’s most important allies.
Furthermore, Hong Kong’s youth generally have a good command of English, with some of them having US, Canadian or European nationalities as a result of the territory’s historical background, and they can serve as intermediaries to help Taiwan communicate with the West.
As a token of Taiwan’s friendliness toward young Hong Kongers, the government could consider assigning student quotas reserved for Chinese students, who might pose a threat to Taiwan’s national security, to students born in Hong Kong instead.
In addition, Taiwan’s visa policies for Hong Kong could be adjusted, allowing Hong Kongers with British National (Overseas) passports to enter Taiwan without a visa and have their passports stamped by customs upon arrival without having to apply for electronic visas online, just like British citizens.
This would encourage more Hong Kongers to refuse to use Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports issued by China and encourage them to support Taiwan’s young generation.
These are strategies that the incoming government could take into consideration.
Martin Oei is a political commentator based in Hong Kong.
Translated by Ethan Zhan
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