According to Hong Kong media reports, the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS), which organized the illegal Occupy Central movement, is planning to send five representatives to Beijing this weekend. They wish to engage in a direct dialogue with central government officials and urge them to withdraw the decision on Hong Kong's political reforms made by the National People's Congress Standing Committee on August 31.
This is widely seen as a move by Hong Kong protesters to use the timing of the APEC meeting in Beijing to revitalize their influence.
We believe the central authorities will not welcome the arrival of the five student representatives, whose names are yet unknown.
Hong Kong's radical pan-democrats and opposition politicians have repeatedly expressed their hopes of coming to Beijing to meet with central officials. Few made the trip, and some who did arrive were merely able to submit their letters to petition offices.
It is expected that the central government will hold the same attitude toward the HKFS student representatives this time.
According to law, if Hong Kong residents need to appeal to the central authorities, they should first turn to the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Other departments of the central government have no obligation to receive the "petitioning" representatives.
Occupy Central is unlawful, and its leaders are already planning to turn themselves in collectively. Before a local court makes a decision on their individual behavior, the five student representatives should not be allowed to leave Hong Kong. Laws in both Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland will not support their seeking to conduct political activities in Beijing at this moment.
In the past 40 days, the influence of the Occupy movement was mainly exerted within Hong Kong. The majority of the mainland public is averse to it, which is also why Occupy is coming to a dead end. The protesters are anxious to cause a stir during the APEC summit, expecting to both press the central authorities and win media attention.
However, the mainland is not as fragile as they think. Complex situations emerge whenever a significant event is held, which is no surprise to mainstream mainland society.
The student representatives should not be let into the mainland. If they arrive anyway, they should be treated based on law, rather than enjoy any privileges.
The illegal Occupy movement must end unconditionally. This is a requirement from all of society toward the radical forces in Hong Kong. And this will not be changed by Occupy organizers through artifice.
Mainland society is determined and prepared to face complexity and deal with it following the August 31 decision, a fact that has to be realized by Occupy protesters and their supporters.
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