Beijing is imposing its style of government on Hong Kong because it can. Chinese public opinion isn’t too sympathetic to the Hong Kong protesters. On the contrary, the special status that Hong Kong has enjoyed has often been seen on the mainland as an unearned privilege: throughout last year’s protests many state media and social media posts described Hong Kong as nothing more than a spoiled brat who didn’t listen to its loving mother. Now the national security law takes away even the liberty to express anti-government opinions without fear of the consequences. • Ilaria Maria Sala is a writer and journalist based in Hong Kong

Source: The Guardian August 15, 2020 10:52 UTC