My friend Lee, a university professor in Hong Kong, recently told me that she wants to participate in the protest named "Occupy Central" against the central government's policies toward Hong Kong. I was astonished by her decision because she has always been friendly to mainlanders.

"People from the Chinese mainland are rich and friendly," she told me, "I like them. As to the central government, I don't know much about it." Her answer made me even more confused.

"I just want to participate in the protest, because it is aimed at safeguarding democracy." She explained.

Although this seems difficult to understand, I believe Lee's argument represents most Hong Kong people's way of thinking: Protest means democracy.

Actually, most Hongkongers I met are quite indifferent to political affairs. The increasing price of Apple products is much more important than the question of who will be the next executive chief.

They all wish Hong Kong to be a more prosperous and powerful region, but have no idea about how to achieve that step by step, because that is the government's business.

They just have expectations, and the government is responsible for making these expectations come true. As long as their wishes cannot be fulfilled in a short time, they will use protests to vent their dissatisfaction.

It seems that Hongkongers attach more attention to the form of democracy than the democracy itself.

Given that there's no policy which can satisfy everyone, there are always people who fight against the government's policy. Hongkongers protest against not only the central government, but also the Hong Kong government's various policies. Protests are done for their own sake, not as an expression of political will.

The central government's policies toward Hong Kong have always been tolerant since Hong Kong's return. Coupled with the flames fanned by those who have ulterior motives, the central government has become the biggest target for Hongkongers to protest against and vent discontents.

The "Occupy Central" movement, which has seemingly gained many Hongkongers' support, is just one of Hong Kong's number of protests every year.

The Chinese mainland need not make a big deal of these protests or portray all Hong Kong protestors as activists who fight against the policy of "one country, two systems." We need to distinguish between ordinary Hong Kong protestors and those who have ulterior motives.

After protests, protestors feel refreshed and continue their daily lives, but those who have ulterior motives make use of these protests to stir up troubles and grab personal interests. They deliberately confuse the public and seek personal benefits under the banner of democracy.

Hong Kong has been returned to China for more than a decade. Economic achievements and social developments in these years are obvious to all. Because achievements cannot benefit all Hongkongers evenly, dissatisfactions and discontents are bound to exist. Protests are just the most commonly used method for ordinary Hongkongers.

However, although excessively praising democracy, most Hongkongers are pragmatic. Traditional Hong Kong has a businesslike attitude.

Last year, the total trade between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland was $341.49 billion.

From 2004 to 2011, Hong Kong's average GDP growth rate has stayed at about 5 percent. In 2011, to return wealth to the people and ease inflationary pressure, the Hong Kong government announced a maximum subsidy of HK$1,800 ($231.8) respectively to each residential electricity account.

All residents in Hong Kong can benefit from mainland-Hong Kong exchanges.

After protests, most Hong Kong protestors will return to reality. Mong Kok and Causeway Bay are always crowded with mainland tourists, and even a small store in Stanley, far away from downtown area, receives Chinese customers almost every day.

The cooperation and exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong are unstoppable.

The current prosperity in Hong Kong has already demonstrated the success of "one country, two systems." As Hongkongers share this consensus, even though there are protests, they will not be utilized by opportunists. The long-term development of true democracy can then be ensured.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. shumeng@globaltimes.com.cn