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| In Beijing, support for dialogue in Hong Kong but not democracy | In Beijing, support for dialogue in Hong Kong but not democracy |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BEIJING — Protests in Hong Kong may have dominated global headlines in the past week, but they stirred much less attention on the Chinese mainland, where government censorship has been particularly strict. | BEIJING — Protests in Hong Kong may have dominated global headlines in the past week, but they stirred much less attention on the Chinese mainland, where government censorship has been particularly strict. |
| Even in Beijing, many people canvassed informally on Monday said they were not aware that protests were taking place in the southern territory. On a sunny public holiday in the Chinese capital, people thronged shopping malls, restaurants and cafes, while others made their way into and around the city at railway, bus and subway stations. About half of the five dozen people questioned professed no knowledge of or said they were not following events in Hong Kong, while most of the rest said their understanding of the situation was limited to state news media reports. | Even in Beijing, many people canvassed informally on Monday said they were not aware that protests were taking place in the southern territory. On a sunny public holiday in the Chinese capital, people thronged shopping malls, restaurants and cafes, while others made their way into and around the city at railway, bus and subway stations. About half of the five dozen people questioned professed no knowledge of or said they were not following events in Hong Kong, while most of the rest said their understanding of the situation was limited to state news media reports. |
| Guo Lin, a 20-year-old student at lunch with a friend in a KFC restaurant in the west of the city, said she was surprised how different the information she was receiving from friends through the Wechat social media platform was from that released on state-run China Central Television. | Guo Lin, a 20-year-old student at lunch with a friend in a KFC restaurant in the west of the city, said she was surprised how different the information she was receiving from friends through the Wechat social media platform was from that released on state-run China Central Television. |
| “My friends who studied in Hong Kong told me how bad the government is there, but CCTV told me how irrational the protesters are — I don’t know who to believe,” she said. “I don’t think the protesters are aggressive. I even envy them because they have freedom of speech.” | “My friends who studied in Hong Kong told me how bad the government is there, but CCTV told me how irrational the protesters are — I don’t know who to believe,” she said. “I don’t think the protesters are aggressive. I even envy them because they have freedom of speech.” |
| Gauging public opinion is notoriously hard in China, where free speech on sensitive topics is extremely limited. But in conversations with a range of people in the capital Monday, there appeared to be little sympathy for the protesters’ main demand — that Hong Kong be granted full democracy — and a tendency to blame students, radicals or foreign governments for disrupting life there rather than the authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing for intransigence. | Gauging public opinion is notoriously hard in China, where free speech on sensitive topics is extremely limited. But in conversations with a range of people in the capital Monday, there appeared to be little sympathy for the protesters’ main demand — that Hong Kong be granted full democracy — and a tendency to blame students, radicals or foreign governments for disrupting life there rather than the authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing for intransigence. |
| Equally, though, in a city that lived through the bloody quelling of the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations, residents expressed a strong desire for dialogue and a peaceful, negotiated solution to end the stalemate. | Equally, though, in a city that lived through the bloody quelling of the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations, residents expressed a strong desire for dialogue and a peaceful, negotiated solution to end the stalemate. |
| There was also significant frustration with the Chinese government’s blanket censorship of news media and social media coverage. | There was also significant frustration with the Chinese government’s blanket censorship of news media and social media coverage. |
| On Sunday, the state-run Xinhua News Agency ran a story stating that “Chinese people from all walks of life have voiced their strong denouncement and opposition against the illegal gatherings of the Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong.” | On Sunday, the state-run Xinhua News Agency ran a story stating that “Chinese people from all walks of life have voiced their strong denouncement and opposition against the illegal gatherings of the Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong.” |
| But public opinion in the capital appeared slightly more nuanced Monday. Backing the Chinese government’s line, a few people said trouble had been stirred up by the U.S. government, while others blamed “radicals” from Hong Kong for selfishly disrupting people’s lives to further their own agenda. | But public opinion in the capital appeared slightly more nuanced Monday. Backing the Chinese government’s line, a few people said trouble had been stirred up by the U.S. government, while others blamed “radicals” from Hong Kong for selfishly disrupting people’s lives to further their own agenda. |
| A 34-year-old finance industry professional, Zhao Xiangang, said he thought the protests had been “manipulated by foreign forces” and were misguided. “Unity is the only feasible choice for China and is in alliance with Chinese culture,” he said. “Democracy, in its nature, is in contrast with unity, which calls for some proper control and dictatorship.” | A 34-year-old finance industry professional, Zhao Xiangang, said he thought the protests had been “manipulated by foreign forces” and were misguided. “Unity is the only feasible choice for China and is in alliance with Chinese culture,” he said. “Democracy, in its nature, is in contrast with unity, which calls for some proper control and dictatorship.” |
| One 22-year-old student — who, like many of those interviewed, would talk only if her name wasn’t used — said she believed that the protesters must have been “brainwashed” and cited tensions between Hong Kong residents and mainland tourists who have flooded into the former British colony in recent years. | One 22-year-old student — who, like many of those interviewed, would talk only if her name wasn’t used — said she believed that the protesters must have been “brainwashed” and cited tensions between Hong Kong residents and mainland tourists who have flooded into the former British colony in recent years. |
| “Many people online are comparing Hong Kong unfavorably to Macau,” she said, referring to the former Portuguese colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1999. “Hong Kongers are very arrogant and very unfriendly to mainlanders, while people in Macau are much nicer.” | “Many people online are comparing Hong Kong unfavorably to Macau,” she said, referring to the former Portuguese colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1999. “Hong Kongers are very arrogant and very unfriendly to mainlanders, while people in Macau are much nicer.” |
| A 36-year-old shopkeeper was a little more understanding: “I think the protesters had a good original intention, but their behavior was too extreme,” he said. “They have affected other people’s lives and damaged China’s image.” | A 36-year-old shopkeeper was a little more understanding: “I think the protesters had a good original intention, but their behavior was too extreme,” he said. “They have affected other people’s lives and damaged China’s image.” |
| But many others, including a 53-year-old government worker, were not sure what to make of it all. “It’s political, it’s complicated and it’s really hard to know the truth,” he said. “I can’t really give my opinion because I don’t see it clearly.” | But many others, including a 53-year-old government worker, were not sure what to make of it all. “It’s political, it’s complicated and it’s really hard to know the truth,” he said. “I can’t really give my opinion because I don’t see it clearly.” |
| A minority, including 20-year-old student Wei Yao, expressed sympathy with the protesters. “The college students are seeking more freedom, which is quite right and understandable since they have always been more free than us,” he said. “But I hope they find a way to control the situation and not let it worsen.” | A minority, including 20-year-old student Wei Yao, expressed sympathy with the protesters. “The college students are seeking more freedom, which is quite right and understandable since they have always been more free than us,” he said. “But I hope they find a way to control the situation and not let it worsen.” |
| Out of 31 people who expressed an opinion, only four suggested that the authorities move in to end the protests, using force if necessary. Twenty-three suggested the Hong Kong government pursue talks to seek a negotiated solution. | Out of 31 people who expressed an opinion, only four suggested that the authorities move in to end the protests, using force if necessary. Twenty-three suggested the Hong Kong government pursue talks to seek a negotiated solution. |
| Just two people, a 45-year-old street cleaner and a 32-year-old private investor, said the authorities should accede to the protesters’ main demand and allow democracy to come to Hong Kong. | Just two people, a 45-year-old street cleaner and a 32-year-old private investor, said the authorities should accede to the protesters’ main demand and allow democracy to come to Hong Kong. |
| In all, 20 people said the Chinese government should end its censorship of the protests so they can find out what is really happening there. | In all, 20 people said the Chinese government should end its censorship of the protests so they can find out what is really happening there. |
| “I heard about it from my friend’s child who is in Hong Kong,” said a 50-year-old businesswoman. “I had planned to visit during the National Holiday week, but I canceled because the situation is quite chaotic there. I really don’t know the whole story. I can’t say my opinion, but they definitely need dialogue to resolve this.” | |
| Liu Liu, Xu Jing and Gu Jinglu contributed to this report. | Liu Liu, Xu Jing and Gu Jinglu contributed to this report. |