Excerpts from a fascinating New York Times article on the relationship of Hong Kong's government to the leadership in China and how China is orchestrating every move the Hong Kong government makes.

According to interviews with six current and former Hong Kong and Chinese government officials, as well as experts in both countries, it is China’s leaders more than Hong Kong’s who have directed the broad outlines of the response here. With China’s needs foremost in mind, they have calibrated a careful balance between a steadfast refusal to give ground on the protesters’ demands for democratic elections and the need to avoid widespread bloodshed that would further destabilize the city, a global financial center.

President Xi Jinping of China, who is also the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, has been briefed at least once a day on developments in Hong Kong, according to two people involved in Hong Kong’s and Beijing’s decision making, one of many signs of Beijing’s intense interest and involvement.

“They treat it as a challenge to Beijing’s governing power in Hong Kong,” said Brian Fong Chi-hang, an assistant professor at the Hong Kong Institute of Education and a former city government official. “Because of this, I’m sure that the Chinese government has basically controlled the whole process.”

“I suspect the central government’s line to C.Y. is: no compromise on political reform, but also no bloodshed,” said Joseph Wong Wing-ping, a former senior official in Hong Kong. “The central government doesn’t like any substantial sign which may indicate or may suggest that they are willing to be a little bit soft.”

The Hong Kong and Chinese officials interviewed for this article spoke on condition of anonymity, citing strict bans by both governments on any public discussion of Beijing’s role here.

“Beijing has increasingly adopted a national security perspective towards Hong Kong issues,” said Mr. Fong, the former city official. “The overriding objective of the whole Communist regime now is how to preserve and stabilize Communist power. That’s the major agenda for the whole Chinese government. So because of this, they’ve changed their perspective towards Hong Kong issues.”

Despite what appeared to be an example of police brutality caught on video this past week, and allegations of possible financial impropriety that have also surfaced, Mr. Leung seems unlikely to lose his job.

On Wednesday, he won an unusually forthright endorsement from Beijing: a front-page commentary in People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s top newspaper. His handling of the protests has “won the full affirmation” of central leaders, said the paper.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/world/asia/china-is-directing-response-to-hong-kong-protests.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0