Since the implementation of the “National Security Law” in Hong Kong, the region has been witnessing a growing trend of mainlandization in government governance. The government has been sending local officials and district councilors to the mainland to learn about the “Fengqiao Experience” promoted by Xi Jinping, a practice reminiscent of the “Fengqiao Experience” during the Cultural Revolution era which has raised concerns among critics. Commentators believe that the Hong Kong government’s aim is to prevent outbreaks of public discontent.
The Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau earlier this year dispatched 18 Home Affairs Commissioners and various district councilors to places like Zhejiang, China to study the so-called “Fengqiao Experience.” The itinerary included visits to the “May 4th Constitutional History Exhibition Hall,” exchanges at the Fengqiao Experience Exhibition Hall and Fengqiao Academy, as well as attending courses on Xi Jinping’s grassroots governance in Shanghai, according to a news release on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government website.
The “Fengqiao Experience” refers to a practice employed by the Chinese Communist Party in the 1960s in the Fengqiao district of Zhuji County in the Ningbo Special Area, which involved monitoring, transforming, and denouncing alleged “class enemies” among the populace. In November 1963, then CCP leader Mao Zedong personally endorsed the nationwide promotion of the “Fengqiao Experience” as a means to maintain social stability and control grassroots communities. This method was subsequently utilized in numerous political movements, resulting in the persecution and deaths of a large number of individuals labeled as the “landlords, rich, reactionary, and bad elements.”
Since taking office, Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the need to “adhere to the development of the Fengqiao Experience” starting from 2013. Some liken this to an enhanced version of the “Auntie Sun” phenomenon, as described by some members of the public.
In the Hong Kong Legislative Council, pro-establishment lawmaker Su Cheung Wing recently queried the Home Affairs Bureau on how to apply the “Fengqiao Experience” to the governance of Hong Kong in a written inquiry dated December 4th. Home Affairs Bureau Chief Ma Mei Chuen responded that through studying the “Fengqiao Experience,” they aim to improve grassroots governance with practices such as “conveying issues up and reporting back down.”
A seasoned commentator familiar with Chinese affairs, Liu Ruishao, told Radio Free Asia that the Hong Kong government’s move to emulate the “Fengqiao Experience” is primarily driven by the fear of public discontent erupting amid economic hardship. He stated, “The authorities hope to stabilize grassroots levels and reduce grievances from that perspective.”
However, Liu also mentioned that the Hong Kong government is unlikely to fully adopt this method as there are still other high-tech maintenance measures available for use.
It is worth noting that despite mainland China’s adoption of the “Fengqiao Experience” and all-encompassing social surveillance, as well as the continued high costs of maintenance, recent retaliatory violent incidents have escalated alongside economic downturns, resulting in severe casualties.
In a meeting on November 6, last year, Xi Jinping met with representatives from 104 units selected for the “Fengqiao-style work method,” causing concerns among some Hong Kong residents that the “Fengqiao Experience” may be replicated in the region, potentially leading to further unrest and chaos.
Dr. Lo Ka Chung, a Hong Kong economist, expressed concerns in an interview with “Watch China” magazine, drawing parallels between the current situation and the leftist riots that occurred in Hong Kong in 1967. During the British colonial period in 1967, the Cultural Revolution’s influence from the Communist Party had already reached Hong Kong, and now in the absence of British control, the impact could be even more severe.
In recent years, instances of mainlandization in Hong Kong governance have become more prevalent. For example, the traditional British-style marching drills of Hong Kong disciplinary forces have gradually been replaced with military-style marching drills introduced by the CCP following the implementation of the “National Security Law.” The Hong Kong Police Force and Fire Services Department have switched to the use of military-style marching drills starting from July 1, 2022, and January 24, 2023, respectively. This year in September, as schools reopened, all junior high schools in Hong Kong introduced new subjects such as “Citizenship, Economics, and Social Sciences,” incorporating content related to “patriotic education” and “Xi Jinping Thought” for the first time.