pin-As I said, China needs only to turn off the tap and imposed an embargo on Hong Kong to strangle any independence. In effect, they can place a siege around the city, no matter how strong HK's defence could be, it cannot outlast the embargo. Would this hurt China economically and politically? Of course, but when it comes to core values, values that impact on the CCP's governing legitimacy and hence it's grip on power, nothing will stop the CCP. And Hong Kong going independent is something tantamount to insurrection, even for a post-CCP government with democratic pretensions.