On September 19, 2014, the state-sponsored China Daily published an editorial by Eddy Li, vice-president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong. An excerpt:
The ultimate objective of democratic development is social harmony and improving people's livelihoods. I have always believed Hong Kong's advantages made our city a better place to live and work in than many other places. These advantages include freedom of speech, low crime levels, a well-developed information system, transparent government officials, a modern health system, an excellent living environment, low tax rates, and a business-friendly environment. With all these advantages, Hong Kong is definitely capable of developing a democratic political system.
At present, however, a small group of people from the "pan-democrat" camp threaten to launch class boycotts in schools and also the "Occupy Central" campaign. This is in an attempt to force the central government to reconsider its recent decision on political reform. But these actions will not help Hong Kong's constitutional development. On the contrary, they will only have a negative impact. If Hong Kong fails to achieve universal suffrage, then these people are to be blamed.These screenshots show that at some time between September 18 and September 21, Sina Weibo began censoring search results for “Hong Kong Boycott Classes” (香港 罢课).
