Hong Kong democracy campaigners demand return to British rule as first step to independence from China
Billy Chiu first gained public attention in Hong Kong when he waved the British colonial flag at protests three years ago.
On Sunday the activist goes one step further in his crusade against the city’s Chinese rulers, when he establishes a political party to campaign for a return to British rule.
Such a policy is considered laughable by many in Hong Kong. But Mr Chiu says re-establishing links with the UK is "transitional" and a means for the city to sever its ties with China.
Independence was once dismissed as extreme by many, but has edged into the political mainstream amid growing fears of tightening control from Beijing.
Mr Chiu’s party, the Alliance to Resume British Sovereignty over Hong Kong and Independence, is the second to openly advocate breaking away from the mainland, following the launch of the National Party in March.
Another grouping, led by teenage activist Joshua Wong, is calling for self-determination.
Mr Wong was the face of the Umbrella protests, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets in 2014 in protest at what they saw as Beijing’s attempts to interfere with elections for the city’s chief executive 2017.
Those protests sparked a new wave of radicalism in the city, and anger from many Hong Kongers increased further with the disappearance last year of five local publishers who specialise in books which are critical of Beijing’s rulers.
The men since re-appeared in the Chinese mainland, with many believing they had been abducted by Chinese agents.
Hong Kong supposedly enjoys legal autonomy from the mainland under the “one country, two systems” rule. But Mr Wong said that principle had been under attack from China, resulting in louder calls for more autonomy.
“Within 10 years we hope to decide self-determination and have a referendum on the sovereignty of Hong Kong after 2047,” said Mr Wong, referring to the end of the 50 year period in which Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status is guaranteed.
“Whether Hong Kong will adopt ‘one country, one system’, or ‘one country, two systems’ or independence, we will let Hong Kongers determine the future of Hong Kong rather than the Chinese Communist Party,” he told The Telegraph.
Mr Wong also said Britain had a major role to play in determining Hong Kong’s post-2047 future.
(continued in the article)