MACAU: Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Hong Kong and Macau on Saturday to remember they are part of “one China”, as pro-democracy campaigners in both semi-autonomous territories call for free leadership elections.

Dozens of protesters marched through Macau’s historic centre on Saturday afternoon as Xi wrapped up his two-day visit to mark the 15th anniversary of the handover from Portugal — just days after police cleared the last remaining protest sites in neighbouring Hong Kong.

Residents of all ages walked in the middle of the road through the historic district shouting: “We want universal suffrage” through megaphones, some wrapped in banners and others with slogans painted across their faces.

“I am uncertain about Macau’s future, so we have to come out to make noise for ourselves,” said Mark Pang, a 15-year-old high school student who held up an open yellow umbrella — the symbol of the Hong Kong democracy movement.

The protest march culminated in a public square where around 100 demonstrators remained in the early evening, though some bystanders were confused by the scene. “Are these people from Hong Kong?” asked one.

Xi warned both territories against a “misguided approach” in a speech on Saturday.

“We must both adhere to the ‘one China’ principle and respect the difference of the two systems,” Xi said at the inauguration of Macau’s chief executive Fernando Chui, who was selected for a second term by a pro-Beijing committee in August.

“At no time should we focus only on one side to the neglect of the other.

This is the only way leading to sound and steady progress. Otherwise a misguided approach from the beginning, just like putting one’s left foot into the right shoe, would lead us to nowhere,” Xi said.

He also warned against “external infiltration and interference” to safeguard the stability of Macau. Beijing has accused foreign forces of stirring up the Hong Kong protests.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2014