Zhang Dinghuai, a Professor of Hong Kong and Macao Studies at Shenzhen University and a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Strait Times (September 6) that common elements of colour revolutions include strong specific political demands, interference by external forces, attempts to motivate the public, social standoff and turmoil, huge pressure upon the authorities, and pursuit of power transfer through purportedly "nonviolent" approaches. He added that many of these features align with what has happened in Hong Kong this year as well as in the illegal "Occupy Central" movement in 2014. He said the "civil disobedience" concept and slogan, as chanted frequently by violent protesters and leaders, aims to defy China's Constitution and is part of an effort to deceive ordinary residents. Separately, Yang Guang, spokesman for the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, told reporters on September 3, that there have been "clear features of a colour revolution" among the radical activists in Hong Kong, and their goal is to paralyse the Hong Kong government, seize the power for governing the SAR and make "one country, two systems" an empty concept. Liu Baolai, former Chinese Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, said the recent protesters' actions targeting public facilities in Hong Kong "are mostly the same and are even more explicit" in comparison to past colour revolutions in the Middle East. He said "The organisers (in Hong Kong) motivated ignorant local people, resorted to violence, featured black-color outfits and masks … which deserve nothing but resolute law enforcement actions by the police."
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