The problem here is that anything gets and will get labeled as an "act of seperation" if it is against CCP interests. CY Leung started to single out a very minute fringemovement that wanted HK indepedence, and this is gradually being widened first to the localist movement, then to democratic movements that advocate self-determination and will undoubtedly widen to almost anything pro-democracy. Typical CCP-tactics.
Meanwhile at these kind of conferences you hear that HK'ers needs to understand China more, yet no-one dares to utter that perhaps the opposite might be true as well.