Club Lunch- China’s New United Front Work in Hong Kong: Can it Win the Hearts and Minds of Hong Kong People?

The speaker shared the findings of a new research project conducted by himself, Dr. Steven Hung and Mr. Jeff Loo on the latest inroads of China’s United Front work in Hong Kong. Described by President Xi Jinping as a “magic weapon” to bolster Beijing’s influence abroad, China’s United Front work and activities are now eliciting much closer scrutiny in countries such as Australia and the United States. China’s new United Front strategies and limitations in Hong Kong will be discussed, especially the role played by pro-Beijing political groups, clan associations and trade unions. China’s extensive United Front work in Hong Kong, however, has been strongly resisted by localist forces and the relatively autonomous Hong Kong voters in direct elections for the Legislative and District Councils.

Sonny Shiu-Hing Lo has been a veteran observer of Hong Kong and Macao politics since the early 1980s. He has published 11 single-authored books on topics such as the politics of Hong Kong and Macao, and cross-border crime and policing in Greater China.