Some people in Hong Kong are still under the influence of the legacy of British rule. They subscribe to Western superiority and have a confused sense of identity, said Malaysian business leader Chandran Nair.

Born in Malaysia and having worked in South Africa, both countries being former British colonies, Nair said he found it odd to see some protesters in Hong Kong waving British and American flags.

They mistook oppression for freedom and misunderstood democracy. And democracy itself should not be viewed as the solution for all problems, as the histories and contexts in different places should be taken into account, he noted.