Outside interference bad for HK

With the public consultation for political reform by the Hong Kong government in 2017 approaching, Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are trying to meddle in Hong Kong's internal affairs, which could undermine the city's democratic progress.

The public relations campaign of the US and the UK started in September, when British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said the UK extends "support" to Hong Kong's political reform. Then waltzed in US Consul General Clifford Hart talking about universal suffrage. Recently, Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, said he regretted not taking "action" on Hong Kong's elections during his governorship.

As the political reform enters the consultation stage in the coming months, more foreign officials are expected to make more provocative remarks. Such actions, amid the illegal Occupy Central (Hong Kong's business district) movement, are bound to backfire, but they could delay the implementation of universal suffrage in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.