Downside to China/Hong Kong. The Chinese don't respond in a politically correct fashion

They are more likely to take serious and permanent corrective action, take the insults, and move on. They are pretty much immune from the "World's Condemnation" motivation.

And with a backdrop of a self-inflicted Banana Republic situation in America with the democrat party trying a double coup supported in a criminal fashion by the five Pinnochio media. And an erratic GOP president who keeps throwing them red meat (latest being Kurds and Ukraine) seemingly because he won't accept advice or ignores it. They may feel they have he cover and timing to muscle Hong Kong down to size. Or totally absorb it.