ExclusiveBeijing ‘under no illusion’ apparent calm in Hong Kong means city no longer has radical supporters, former city leader CY Leung says

‘I don’t think anyone, Beijing included, has the illusion of being able to change the political situation in Hong Kong overnight,’ Leung Chun-ying says

He urges young Hongkongers to travel to mainland China and see for themselves the lives people have

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People at a polling station in 2019. Ex-chief executive Leung Chun-ying says the voter base of radical protesters is still sizeable. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 8:30am, 4 Dec 2023Updated: 11:21am, 4 Dec 2023

Beijing recognises that Hong Kong’s political situation will not change overnight despite the recent years of apparent calm, former city leader Leung Chun-ying has said as he called for more to be done to win over the supporters of radicals.

In an exclusive interview with the Post, Leung, who is now the city’s only vice-chairman of Beijing’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said it was too early to conclude if the social divisions from the social unrest in 2019 had healed.

Giving his assessment on the political climate in Hong Kong ahead of next weekend’s district council election under drastically changed rules, he said the voter base of radical protesters or extreme opposition was still sizeable, even after taking into account the impact of those who had emigrated.

Leung Chun-ying is now the city’s only vice-chairman of Beijing’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Photo: Dickson Lee

Work had to be done to make Hong Kong residents, especially those previously cynical about mainland China, understand the prospects there and to learn more about their country, he said.

“I think we should take a long-term view on the political situation in Hong Kong. It is not going to be changed overnight. I don’t think anyone, Beijing included, has the illusion of being able to change the political situation in Hong Kong overnight,” the former chief executive noted.