A Chinese state-run media outlet criticized protests of a controversial extradition bill as being driven by the “basket of deplorable, social media driven fantasies of certain fanatical teeny-boppers in Hong Kong.”
A writer for Global Times said in a Wednesday opinion article that the city of Hong Kong is “becoming sick” and must start behaving more like the sister semi-autonomous city of Macao, then praised Macao’s population for embracing aspects of Chinese history and tradition, including traditional Chinese medicine.
The “basket of deplorables” phrase is the same one used by Hillary Clinton to describe Donald Trump supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Since June of this year, Hong Kong has seen wide-scale protests against a proposed bill that would allow China to extradite Hong Kong citizens and even foreign nationals in the city back to the Chinese mainland to face trial in courts dominated by China’s Communist Party.
“Many silent majority in Greater China view these teeny-boppers as monstrous vandals,” the Global Times opinion said.
In the course of protests, many protesters have complained about torture and brutal police tactics.
In an early September statement, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would formally withdraw the controversial extradition bill. Lam said the decision showed willingness to respond to the demands of protesters, but when addressing police brutality as a separate issue, Lam directed people to file their complaint through the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC).
The Hong Kong protests have continued since Lam’s address and protesters have called for her resignation and for greater democratic reforms for the city.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong protesters began a more vandalous series of protests in a rejection of Chinese nationalism during its National Day celebrating the establishment of communist rule under the People’s Republic of China.
In response to continued protests on Tuesday, Hong Kong Police began using tear gas and “appropriate force to disperse protesters.” Those protests later devolved into incidents of police firing live ammunition.
Video captured the moment one protester shot from point-blank range by a police officer firing live rounds. In total, police fired five warning shots during the incident, and in four other places where protests were taking place.
The author of the Wednesday Global Times opinion praised Macao’s involvement in bilateral cooperation between China and Portugal in China’s “Belt and Road” economic development plan. The author also appeared to warn that Macao would overtake Hong Kong’s success under its current trajectory.
“When Macao celebrates the 20th anniversary of the handover in December, it will be clear to many that Macao has a new role in this region—and will for sure be aiming for new heights of history.”
