Hu Jianzhong, deputy commissioner of the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, warned on Sunday that calls for "Hong Kong independence" pose a real threat to national security and should be checked.

This is not the first time a senior central government official in the SAR has spoken out on national security after some "pro-independence" groups were formed recently as Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China, and any attempt to separate it from the country is a challenge to national security. It is, therefore, only natural for the central government to consider any "pro-independence" rhetoric alarming and objectionable.

Some people in Hong Kong have used "free speech" as an excuse to defend such action by separatists as if freedom of expression allows people to say whatever they want without having to be held accountable for the consequences. This is a blatant misinterpretation of human rights and should be roundly condemned. Hong Kong society has seen too many illegal acts committed by radical groups that have shown they have no respect for other people's rights and will resort to violence to advance their own agenda any time they feel like it. In fact, some of them have already done it, saying they are even prepared to take extreme actions that could lead to human casualties in the name of "localism" or "independence".

It's not an over-reaction of the central government in viewing this as a matter of national security as these radical forces do enjoy the support of certain foreign governments in one way or another. And, they have demonstrated their propensity for violence repeatedly during the illegal "Occupy Central" movement and by their criminal harassment of innocent tourists in the name of "localism". Hong Kong people have every reason to believe these radical groups will resort to armed insurgency if they possess real firepower.

The reality is that these radicals are trying to recruit as many young people as possible to have their minds poisoned with all sorts of lies about "localism" or "independence". Although there's no way at present to shut them up, the public can always use free speech to fight back. No one should believe that freedom of expression applies only to "dissidents". All Hong Kong residents can and should speak up when the public's overall interests are at stake.

The central government is obliged to make its stand clear on matters concerning national security, and will do whatever is necessary to ensure this, but it may not have to if Hong Kong society can deal with the matter itself.

(HK Edition 04/18/2016 page11)