Written by By Staff Writer
Hong Kong’s four-year leadership feud is deep in people’s consciousness, spurring widespread debate on the future of their city.
One important question remains: Can Hong Kong maintain its special status as a separate zone from mainland China in exchange for democracy?
China could see this lose-lose strategy backfire if it lacks the political will to preserve Hong Kong’s different nature.
One problem is that China wants to achieve the same aim, while the opposition in Hong Kong wants independence.
China took the momentum in Hong Kong by using undercover agents. It infiltrated civil society groups across the city, recruited left-wing figures and defected local politicians. It poured millions of dollars into the campaign. By hiring more than 200 lobbyists, the Communist Party wanted to “shack up” with those fighting for democracy, sources told CNN.