Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said what Hong Kong is facing is in fact "a political problem", with diametrically opposite views of what kind of city Hong Kong should be.

The fundamental difference is that the central government wants stability and prosperity for Hong Kong, while the opposition camp and external forces want to make it the beachhead for their attempt to subvert China and contain its development, Zhang said at a webinar to mark the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law of HKSAR on Monday.