Activists hit back against Beijing leader's comments

The city's activists say comments by a state leader who denounced them for waving colonial flags infringed their freedom of speech and could stir further conflict.

Hong Kong Autonomy Movement spokesman Vincent Lau hit back yesterday after Yu Zhengsheng , a Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee member, was quoted as saying that "the Chinese people will not accept some Hongkongers waving the colonial flag".

"The Basic Law guarantees all Hongkongers the freedom of speech and expression", Lau said. "We are perfectly free … to wave any flag we like as the signature of our group."

Yu's comment did nothing to ease the anti-mainland sentiment, he said, and stressed that his group was seeking to safeguard the "one country, two systems" principle rather than to campaign for independence.

"Yu's comment has apparently gone against the Basic Law and meddled in Hong Kong issues," said Lau.

"Unless one day the national security law is legislated, I do not think anyone should be charged just for speaking out."

Yu, who is tipped to be the nation's top advisory body's next chairman, is the first high-level mainland official to address controversies involving the city. He was quoted by a Hong Kong delegate as saying that the city could not become a base and bridgehead for subverting the mainland, and warning that "opposition" and "centrifugal forces" would not be allowed to rule the city after universal suffrage was introduced.