While Hong Kong is still tormented by the Occupy Central movement, a power reversal between Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party and the Democratic Progressive Party took place after the island's recent "nine-in-one elections." Young voters are believed to be the reason for the turnaround. People then began to analyze the connections between Hong Kong and Taiwan. According to them, the Occupy Central movement, with Hong Kong students as the main force, has learnt from the Sunflower Student Movement in Taiwan. In turn, the results of Taiwan's local elections were affected by the Occupy movement.

Such analyses are not yet proven. But it will be no surprise if the Taiwan question and the Hong Kong issue in the future become more connected.

The nature of the Hong Kong issue lies in how to promote democracy under the framework of "one country, two systems," while the Taiwan question is about anti-Taiwan independence and promoting the country's reunification. Although the two are different in nature, it's not difficult to make use of them.

The long-term separation of Hong Kong and Taiwan from the mainland has jeopardized the formation of a united ethnic and cultural identity among the three. Local interests have been to varying degrees placed above national interests. Both Hong Kong and Taiwan are pursuing the maximization of their local interests. Some Taiwanese even view the cross-Straits relationship as a zero-sum relationship.

Hong Kong is politically closer to the Chinese mainland than Taiwan currently, and the two will constantly compare the pros and cons that will be brought by political ties with the mainland.

If Taiwan feels jealous of Hong Kong, this will be conducive to the reunification of the country. Otherwise, the mainland will face more difficulties in implementing its strategy.

Beijing could affect the attitudes of the two regions toward the mainland through issuing preferential policies. But one problem is that in view of uncertainties caused by the rotation of ruling parties in Taiwan, preferential policies toward Taiwan will hardly yield effective results. Therefore, Beijing should devote more resources and energy to Hong Kong.

Noticeably, the loyalty of Hong Kong to the country cannot be maintained by preferential policies alone. The mainland needs to further develop itself so that not only can Hong Kong and Taiwan benefit from the country's development, but they will also admire the political and cultural achievements the mainland has made. The stronger the mainland becomes, the more influence it will have on the interaction between the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. 

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