Currently the #1 trending microblog post on Chinese microblog platform Sina Weibo, with over 60k upvotes, 110k forwards/reshares, and 25k comments, is by a British academic…

From Sina Weibo:

@JohnRoss431: It’s inconvenient for me to comment on Hong Kong’s 2017 Chief Executive general election issue, because I’m not Chinese after all. However, Western media reports on the Hong Kong issue have been too hypocritical. In the United Kingdom’s 150 years of colonial rule over Hong Kong, the UK never permitted Hong Kongers to elect the Governor, and the United States did not protest against the UK for it either. Now when the system designed by China for Hong Kong is far more democratic than that allowed by the UK, the United States instead strongly protests against the China’s government. While I’m at it, which school provides the best excavator skills?

Comments from Sina Weibo:

李准alex：

I don’t know politics, but your Chinese brings a tear to my eye.

不脱知人生：

Please don’t not meddle in Lanxiang‘s internal school affairs!!! [Note: This is referring to the “excavator” jokes that have recently become a popular internet meme on Chinese internet posts/comments.]

CBA闹他：

For daring to speak the truth, let me firmly tell you: Lanxiang!

糖思维July：

To see a foreigner speaking on behalf of China’s government, and then see how some Chinese people’s despise their own country, I’ve had enough. I only want to say: How cam a large and grand country that has only just been reborn from destruction and ruin make every single person happy? Which government has truly been able to to give their people 100% democracy? Then what are leaders for? Everyone in their role, doing their job. I don’t care how Hong Kongers feel, I’m still proud of being Chinese.

深海一细沙：

After you go back to your country, people are definitely going to say you’ve been brainwashed by the Chinese, hehe, but I support your fair and objective comment. Those troublemakers in the Hong Kong SAR should be punished through lawful means. The SAR government departments should firmly pursue legal liability against the troublemakers in accordance with the law.

Leslie星大大：

Even saying something relatively objective can get one accused of being wumao, while those who curse/criticize the government are all normal people? This logic is also stupid.

法语薇言：

To see such a down-to-earth comment before going to sleep, I cannot help but give the microblog owner [original poster] an upvote!

晓辰：

Haha, this laowai is perceptive/insightful! Although in the minority, he has hit the nail on the head, seeing things more clearly than many Hong Kongers…

蒲狸子：

The original poster can go to Bei Da Qing Niao, Shandong Lanxiang, and New East Cuisine School [all vocational schools] to take advanced studies. Then, you’ll be able to use a computer to control an excavator to cook dishes.

许聃_Ender：

I really don’t understand, why are there so many people who support the fenqing-ism of Hong Kong students? Their American father has fattened up ISIS, and their British mother can’t even deal with Scotland. A bunch of children who haven’t even grown all their public hair wanting to cause a disturbance? Laughable!

爱国爱港中国控：

Certain protests are inherently farces. Making a fuss without reason will be fruitless, and sooner or later must end.

夏天michaelia：

Wanting democracy is no cause for blame, but those saying the UK wanted to give Hong Kong democracy a long time ago were it not for mainland pressure need to shut up. Go look at when China and the UK began their talks and when the British colonial government of Hong Kong proposed giving Hong Kongers democracy. Are you people really that naive? If they sincerely and genuinely wanted to give democracy, why didn’t they give it earlier, or has British democracy not been around long enough? I respect every person who fights for democracy, but despise those who deliberately whitewash British imperialism.

悠林林976：

Hong Kong, you spineless cunt, back when your parents were being insulted/humiliated by Western nations, you were taken away to be slaves, and instead of doing your best to resist, you actually thought it was great. Your parents worked hard to finally bring you back and you instead spend every day looking down on your parents, constantly cursing them, calling them cunts, and when they don’t agree to your unreasonable demands, you threaten that you want to go back to being a slave dog. This kind of trollish argument definitely won’t work, and I hope the central government will adopt unyielding measures.

改个名这么难呀：

If there are any Hong Kong friends [people] here, please pass this on. If there is anyone in the Mongkok Nathan Road area, I don’t oppose your peaceful protest, but can you guys please keep it down and not use loudspeakers? Brother [referring to self] has an early shift tomorrow. Otherwise, I’m going to piss out the window. So annoying.

齐天大蒜泥：