Managing sensitivities

Professor Peter Cheung of Hong Kong University, an expert on Hong Kong-mainland ties, said while grievance from growing interactions between the two areas are real, they are easily cast in "highly emotional and politicised terms" in the current climate.

"It is imperative for the Hong Kong government to forge a consensus in society through deliberation and reasoning," he said.

The campsite controversy follows others of a similar vein - anger that mainlanders are pushing up home prices, ire against parallel traders at Sheung Shui, and fear that new towns in north-east New Territories are being developed for mainland investors.

The Lantau campsite became the latest flashpoint when 250 tents were erected in a space designated for just 52 spots on Saturday. Altercations broke out between dismayed Hong Kong campers who had booked the spots and the newcomers, some of whom put up tents adorned with the mainland Chinese flag.

The next morning, some campers found their tents with gashes on them. Others claimed their tents had gone missing.

Meanwhile, passions were further inflamed by reports of a tourist from Sichuan who was accused of assaulting a tour guide in Tsim Sha Tsui. He failed to appear in court yesterday and an arrest warrant has been issued.

xueying@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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