Singapore the beneficiary of Hong Kong unrest
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests have lost support in Singapore due to increasing violence and disrespect being shown.
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests have lost support in Singapore because of the increasing levels of violence and disrespect being shown for police and the public.
In Singapore, where protests effectively are banned, students have not rallied in support of the demands of demonstrators in Hong Kong.
Few will publicly support the actions of Hong Kong students who have faced off against police in what they consider to be a fight for their future against control from the communist mainland.
INQUIRER: Watching from the sidelines
“There is a lack of awareness among the Singapore Chinese youth about what is happening or why they are protesting,” says former Hong Kong resident Nikki Lo who is studying in Singapore.
Ms Lo was born in Singapore but moved to Hong Kong with her father when she was two.
She has returned to Singapore to study because “there are so many people from mainland China in university there is no space for local students to study in Hong Kong”. Singapore’s major media has given widespread coverage to the riots in Hong Kong but has been mostly critical of the escalating violence.
Singapore could benefit financially from continued unrest in Hong Kong.
A poll of 120 companies by the American Chamber of Commerce found 23 per cent with an office in Hong Kong were considering moving business functions from the city, and nine in 10 of those consider Singapore to be the best option.
Singapore’s Ambassador at Large, Tommy Koh, said while many protesters remain committed to the original non-violent nature of the protests in Hong Kong, violent behaviour “has brought discredit to the protest movement”. “The actions by some protesters to burn China’s flag, deface the portrait of its president and attack the premises of its office are totally unacceptable”, Mr Koh said. “Their actions to shut down the airport, attack the MTR and vandalise private property must be condemned.”
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This series is supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism & Ideas
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He said the people of Hong Kong enjoyed the goodwill of Singaporeans and that Singaporeans wanted Hong Kong to succeed and for the current unrest to be resolved peacefully.
Two protests were held in Hong Kong at the weekend, marking the 21st straight week of demonstrations. Efforts so far by Hong Kong authorities to stop the protests have largely failed.
The Hong Kong government has withdrawn the proposed extradition bill that sparked the protests and pledged to make housing more affordable.
Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam is expected to be replaced by China early next year.
But bans on marches, the shooting of protesters by police and the use of emergency laws to outlaw face masks has led to a new wave of violence.
Historian and China expert Professor Wang Gungwu said China had benefited from the one-country, two-systems arrangement that had given Hong Kong limited autonomy.
Both Hong Kong and Singapore were once British colonies.
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How should we manage our relationship with China?
The Australian’s Strategic Forum, November 18
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