Not a trace of the July 1 Hong Kong protests can be seen on mainland Chinese media, and “sensitive words” surrounding the rallies have been scrubbed from major Web platforms. So Global Times Chief Editor Hu Xijin’s Weibo post addressing, in English, “protest” in “ongKong” got the surround-and-watch treatment:
HuXijin: Today’s “protest” in “ongKong” is quite normal. Under the policy of “one country two systems,” Hong Kong administers its own affairs. Beijing has no right to get involved, and probably has no desire, either. I don’t think this is an “anti-China ‘protest.’” The slogans are all about real estate tycoons, police abusing their powers, universal pensions, reforming the tax codes and granting workers 5 days more of vacation. 500 Indonesian maids also joined in to ask for a minimum wage of 4000 Hong Kong dollars. Beijing can voice its wishes, but solving these issues is not within the power of the CCP Central Committee.
胡 锡进：ongKong今天出protest，这很正常。一国两制，港人治港，中央无权干涉，大概也没想干涉。我不认为这是“反中protest”，口号都 是打倒地产霸权，抗议警察滥权，全民退保，改革不义税制，还有“劳工假+5天”等，500名印佣也加入了，要求最低工资4000港元。中央可以提希望，但 解决这些不是中央职权。
Protesters did have a range of grievances, but Hu left out the more outstanding among them. He tried to explain himself after the Weibo firestorm was well under way, but his response only dug him deeper:
HuXijin: I’m a realist. Today I posted a Weibo that strung together Chinese and English. Still, it’s better than before Weibo. I believe the day will come when there aren’t so many keywords as now. At that time I won’t mix Chinese and English again. I’m older than a lot of people, I’ve seen China’s process of change, and I’m happy for it. I don’t think good things are ready-made. That’s why I’ll work hard to promote China’s change. Many others are doing the same.
胡 锡进：我是现实主义者，今天有微博了，但我得中英文串着发，纠结。但比过去没微博时好多了。我相信总有一天，关键词会比现在少很多，到时我就不用再中央文串了。我比很多人年长，看到中国变化的过程，并为这个过程高兴。我不认为好东西会是现成的，所以我很努力，做这个过程的推动者之一。很多人也是。
“Keywords” are of course those “sensitive words” which the censors block and which netizens allude to in various forms, from puns to pinyin to, yes, English.
In all, Hu’s two posts received 2121 comments and 1935 reposts. Below are a selection of translated comments. Read more from CDT Chinese.
2:30p.m.: 1. Using the word “probably” shows that you haven’t received editorial training. 2. This is indeed not anti-China, it’s anti-Party. 3. The CCP’s official powers are to solve problems and serve the people, not voice its wishes. 4. This isn’t a “protest,” it’s a “demonstration.”
下午2点30：1. 用“大概”这个词 说明你没有受过编辑培训。2. 这确实不是反中,这是反党. 3.中共职权是解决问题，为人民服务，而不是提希望。4. 这不是protest, 这是demonstration.
LittleParty: Where’s “ongKong”? What’s a “protest”? Do you have the guts to speak Chinese?
小党:ongKong是哪啊，protest是啥啊？敢说中文不
BurningYanXiaokang: Everything on TV yesterday was “get China out of Hong Kong,” “end the one-party dictatorship,” “redress **.” [“Redress” is usually followed by “64,” standing for June 4th.] Chief Hu must not have gotten the memo.
燃烧吧燕小抗：昨天满屏都是“中联办滚出香港”、”结束一档读财 平反**”，胡总日理万机大概没顾上看。
LiShitaoInGermany: You have a point. Why don’t you write about this in the Global Times?
李世涛在德国：说的有道理，为啥不放到环球时报上报道一下呢？
DOUDOUEast: Hey, who’s Li +yang, Chief Hu? I can’t understand what they’re saying. And by the way, did they apply to “protest”?
DOUDOU东：李+阳是谁啊，胡总，他们说的我们都听不懂，另外，他们protest申请了吗
CatRaisesFishforLove: I’m reporting you for writing inappropriate posts.
为爱养鱼的猫：举报你发不实信息
MyNonBaldHubby: Chief Hu, when do we mainlanders get to take to the streets?
不秃他爹：胡总，我们大陆的什么时候能上街？
M_JLT: You’re missing complaints! How could you forget?
M_JLT：还有口号你没发吧！怎么不发全？
TonyBear: Editor Hu is possessed by the spirit of Guo Meimei. Now he’s flinging English.
拖尼熊: 郭美美灵魂附体，胡总编猛拽英语。
LongWobbler: Please speak Mandarin thank you. Chief Hu, we still must sinicize the whole world.
悠哉晃悠:请讲国语谢谢，胡总我们还要汉化全球呢
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