HONG KONG -- The relationship between Hong Kong and Beijing is at a critical point, with the central government having cautioned the special administrative region not to rush headlong into democracy while local people fear that their democratic aspirations may be frustrated.
So far, the central government itself has not taken any irrevocable actions. It has set forth principles that must be observed and explained what its areas of concern are. However, there are people in the central government who are creating new problems not only for Hong Kong but for Beijing as well.
The prime example is Tsang Hin-chi, a Hong Kong member of the standing committee of the National People's Congress. After the central government asserted that the main body of those governing Hong Kong should comprise of "patriots," Tsang publicly declared that three leaders of the Democratic Party -- Martin Lee, Szeto Wah and Cheung Man-kwong -- are not patriotic.