HK chief warns of 'anarchy'

Hong Kong's chief executive has warned pan-democracy protesters that they risked "anarchy" in the aftermath of the Occupy movement, as he announced measures to boost ties with the Chinese mainland among the city's young generation.

Leung Chun-ying gave a strongly-worded speech after arriving at the Legislative Council amid tight security on Wednesday morning, as he made his first visit to the building since the end of the 79-day Occupy protests last month.

In his address, "Uphold the Rule of Law, Seize the Opportunities, Make the Right Choices," Leung singled out a monthly student magazine published by the University of Hong Kong's student union, warning that the magazine's previous publication advocating "self-determination" for Hong Kong will lead to "anarchy" in the city.

He reiterated the government's stance that city elections must be held within the framework set by Beijing, as "substantial power to decide on constitutional development rests with the central authorities."

He added that students - who led two months of mass protests which ended in December - "should be guided towards a full understanding" of Hong Kong's relationship with Beijing.

Chang Chak-yan, a Hong Kong political commentator, said the idea presented by the magazine represents the failure of Hong Kong's youth to recognize their national identity, which contributed to the recent spate of protests.

Leung also outlined in his third annual policy address new plans, including relaxing limits on accepting mainland talent, renewing curriculum content of Chinese history, and providing subsidies for Hong Kong students who join mainland exchange programs.

Lawmaker Christopher Chung Shu-kun said Leung's plan to increase housing supply, strengthen retirement protection and promote youth entrepreneurship would "help ease tensions and discontent in Hong Kong society," but added that these measures will not be enough to pacify the Occupy movement, which insists on political consensus.

Leung's speech was delayed and at several points disrupted by pan-democrat lawmakers who opened yellow umbrellas, a symbol of the Occupy movement, and shouted slogans before they were removed from the hall. About 70 pan-democracy protesters gathered outside the Legislative Council, along with dozens of Leung's supporters.

The chief executive also announced a surprise suspension to the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, an investment immigration scheme granting residency to people who invest no less than HK$10 million ($1.29 million) in the local markets.

Since 2003, the scheme has allowed nearly 40,000 people, of whom more than 90 percent were from the Chinese mainland, to migrate to Hong Kong.

Chang believes the suspension came as efforts to address some opposition parties' claims that investments from the mainland Chinese have contributed to overheating the local property market.

Chung Shu-kun attributed the sudden halt to a response to the central government's anti-corruption campaign as it would prevent ill-gotten gains flowing into Hong Kong.

The chief executive discussed at length the government's plan to increase exchanges among the young generation in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland by providing a subsidy for students to join at least one mainland exchange program each in the primary and secondary stages.

The government will also launch a pilot scheme to provide financial and professional support for local schools to double the number of primary and secondary sister schools in Hong Kong and the mainland to about 600 of each within the coming three years.

Lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun believes these exchanges will provide opportunities for Hong Kong youth to experience other mainland cities which will help clear up their misunderstanding about the mainland.

"Many youngsters lack knowledge or sometimes misunderstand the idea of 'one country, two systems' and the Basic Law. The exchange programs will help build their national identity and strengthen their sense of belonging to the Chinese mainland," said the lawmaker.

In what observers see as efforts to fill the void caused by the absence of patriotic education in Hong Kong, Leung said his administration will restore Chinese and world history in the curriculum to "reinforce students' interest in and understanding of Chinese history."

Chang believes the government's plan to strengthen Chinese history education will help the youth become more aware of the Chinese mainland's sovereignty over Hong Kong.

"The 150-plus years of colonial history alienated Hong Kong's youth from their Chinese identity, which has contributed to the recent Occupy Central protests. Learning Chinese history will make Hong Kong's youth understand core values of being Chinese," he further noted.

Chang added that the measures address the remarks made by Zhang Rongshun, the vice-chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National Peoples' Congress Standing Committee, who earlier said some Hongkongers need to be "re-enlightened" in their understanding of the "one country, two systems" principle.