A top China official is trying to convince Hong Kong it won't lose its identity as the city erupts in protests

Reuters/Vincent Yu

Beijing’s third-highest ­official has assured Hong Kong that it will not lose its identity or autonomy to become just another city in China, but warned against independence moves­.

In an unexpectedly forthcoming and wide-ranging speech during a banquet in his honor on Wednesday night, visiting state leader Zhang Dejiang tried to ease fears about the erosion of the “one country, two systems” policy ­governing Hong Kong.

But in his call for the city to safeguard the rule of law, the chairman of the National People’s Congress singled out the ­judiciary, which he said should implement the law “seriously” and “justly” without tolerating ­offenders. It was not clear if he was ­referring to recent court rulings in favor of some of the activists being prosecuted over the ­Occupy movement of 2014.

“I hope the SAR government and the judiciary would firmly fulfill the solemn duty to safeguard the rule of law,” he said.

Zhang added society should reprimand any behavior that breached the rule of law.

In the 25-minute speech at the Convention and Exhibition ­Centre in Wan Chai, Zhang, also a member of China’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, promised Beijing was ­prepared to listen to different views as long as they were for the well-being of Hong Kong.

“While respecting ‘one country, two systems’ and the Basic Law, we would like to listen to the opinions and suggestions from all walks of life and communicate in various ways for the sake of Hong Kong,” he said at the event, which was boycotted by all pan-democratic lawmakers.

But four of them met Zhang for an hour before the banquet, ­setting a precedent for direct talks with a state leader. They called for the ouster of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, but Zhang did not respond directly, according to the lawmakers.

Reuters/Vincent Yu

Commenting on the chief executive’s performance during the banquet speech, Zhang said Leung’s administration “has spotted where the problems lie, and is trying its best to foster ­economic development”.

“The policies adopted [by Leung] have started working, gradually making some achievements,” Zhang noted, without mentioning the looming election for the top Hong Kong job next year.

Zhang is the first state leader to visit Hong Kong since large-scale pro-democracy protests in 2014.

He made use of the speech to cover three areas arising from the implementation of one country, two systems: localism, the rule of law and development.

Zhang cited late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平 ), the ­architect of “one country, two ­systems”, reminding Hong Kong of the “original thoughts” behind it. “There are so-called suggestions that the central government was seeking mainlandization of Hong Kong, or even changing ‘one country, two systems’ to ‘one country, one system’. They are completely baseless,” Zhang said.

The principle, he added, “is the biggest common denominator between the mainland and Hong Kong” and should not be changed.

Amid growing pro-independence talk, based on the premise that Hong Kong would only remain intact by being separate from the rest of the country, Zhang said those proponents accounted for only “an extremely small number” of people.

Reuters/Vincent Yu

“This is not a matter of localism,” he said. “This is secession in the name of localism."

“Hong Kong people’s care of their own way of life and set of values ought to be respected.”

He cited his own background in arguing that localism was not inconsistent with patriotism. Born in the mainland’s northeast, Zhang said he loved his hometown. But he added that as a ­Chinese citizen, “I love my motherland”.

China watcher Johnny Lau ­Yui-siu said Zhang’s only message was to make it clear that independence would not be tolerated.

“Although Zhang’s language was not as strong as previously expressed by state-run media, it does not mean the stance has changed,” Lau said.

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Wong Kwok-kin saw Zhang’s speech as a mild caution aimed at talk of ­independence.

On development, Zhang said Hong Kong’s international status was decided by its economic standing, and called on Hongkongers to have an “urgent sense” of developing the economy.

Earlier in the day, he gave full support for Hong Kong to participate in Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” trade initiative.

Reuters/Vincent Yu

At a banquet in his honour on the second day of his visit, Zhang Dejiang also strongly criticized calls for the city’s independence, but noted that only a “very small minority” was involved in such talk.

“One country, two systems has … won wide recognition in the international community,” the chairman of the National People’s Congress said. “This did not come easily, and deserves pride and protection.”

The unexpectedly comprehensive speech did not shy away from sensitive issues as Zhang also called on the judiciary to fulfil its solemn duty of safeguarding the rule of law, saying it should be enforced seriously and justly, without leaving offenders unpunished. This was seen as a reference to the Occupy movement of 2014.

He said no one was above the law, every person was equal under it, and Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability could not be maintained if the cornerstone of the rule of law was shaken up.

Zhang called localism a normal phenomenon, but stressed that to love one’s homeland was not inconsistent with patriotism.

But those who advocated Hong Kong independence, Zhang said, were “in essence secessionist in the name of localism” and in contravention of the one country, two systems policy.

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