Hong Kong became the focus of China's Olympic euphoria yesterday when its athletes arrived to parade their haul of medals, with critics accusing Beijing of trying to stir up nationalist pride ahead of weekend elections in the southern Chinese territory.
The three days of chest thumping have been denounced by some China-watchers as one of a series of political stunts aimed at winning over voters in next week's legislative elections at the expense of pro-democracy candidates seen as hostile to China's leadership.
PHOTO: AFP
"China has been keen to guide a city it feels is weak on patriotism and weak on nationalist spirit," said Anthony Cheung (
According to analysts, the Olympic visit is part of a charm offensive China launched to build nationalist fervor here after half a million people joined a march on July 1 last year challenging the way the city was run.
The rally, followed by several other large-scale protests, shocked Hong Kong and China's political elite causing Beijing to regard it as a restive territory.
From celebrity visits to military parades, Beijing began organizing huge events to nudge the city back onto a patriotic path, observers say.
In the words of political analyst Michael DeGolyer of Hong Kong Baptist University they were designed to "re-establish and reassert the national purpose on the people".
Yesterday's visit began with stirring patriotic music that greeted China's 50 gold medallists as they arrived at the airport. They were welcomed by Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (
The most spectacular event, however, was a military parade in August when the People's Liberation Army showed off its military might here for the first time since China took control of the territory from Britain in 1997.
Among other salvoes were a visit by Yang Liwei (
Each event was granted the sort of prestige usually reserved for visits by high-ranking leaders and accompanied by a level of pomp and ceremony not seen even at Communist Party gatherings.
Although officials have denied they were linked to the upcoming elections, observers say their timing was no coincidence.
"It is cynical but that is the kind of thing the central government would do ... they will use any tool to try and make the people feel good," outspoken pro-democracy legislator Emily Lau (
The six-day tour by astronaut Yang came just days before elections in the territory in November last year, but the visit failed to win over voters, who hammered the pro-Beijing party.
The upcoming election will be largely symbolic as Hong Kong's Legislative Council is essentially powerless; the hand-picked Tung holds the reins in this city.
Nonetheless, it is being viewed as a litmus test of public regard for China and the city's democratic aspirations.
For that reason alone, say some observers, China would be eager to make its influence felt.
"Whatever China says, it is watching this election very closely and is keen that it goes its way," Cheung said.
Political opponents like Lau believe the charm offensive has been accompanied by a covert program of intimidatory attacks and threats against leading democratic figures.
China has been blamed for a number of attacks on legislators' homes and threats to voters.
It was also accused of masterminding a spate of scandals surrounding the leading pro-democracy Democratic Party. In one, a low-ranking candidate was jailed in China for hiring a prostitute and three other hopefuls were accused of financial irregularities.
"Dirty tricks work because the media will always go for scandal, distracting attention from the real issues," said Hong Kong University political scientist and democracy advocate Professor Joseph Cheng (
The most high-profile criticisms leveled against the mainland, however, came in May when three outspoken radio talkshow hosts quit their jobs claiming Chinese officials had threatened them for airing anti-Beijing views.
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