Beijing has claimed that Hong Kong protests have “clear colour revolution characteristics,” adding that it will not rule out intervention if the city is in turmoil.
Colour revolution refers to movements in former Soviet countries in the 2000s that led to the overthrow of governments. Beijing believes such movements were organised or assisted by the United States.The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the China Liaison Office of Hong Kong conducted a joint seminar in Shenzhen on Wednesday, attended by around 500 top figures from Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing camp. Zhang Xiaoming, head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, said Hong Kong must “stop the riots and disturbances” after two months of protests. He said Beijing will support Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the police force.
In a speech published by the office after the seminar, Zhang cited former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and said: “If the situation in Hong Kong continues to worsen into unrest that the Hong Kong SAR government cannot control, the central government will not sit back and do nothing.”
