AS she prepares for the final day of her visit to China, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has hailed Scotland as an example of how the people of Hong Kong can involve themselves in political processes.

Calling both for “peaceful and lawful” political engagement and protections for freedom of assembly and expression, the First Minister made a deft intervention and avoided a potential diplomatic pitfall.

Though her trip to China was first and foremost to boost business, cultural and educational ties between Scotland and the world’s most populous country, on arrival in Hong Kong, Sturgeon was never going to be able to avoid questions about the referendum back home and the pro-democracy protests and civil disobedience campaign which took place in the former Crown Colony late last year.

Speaking to The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s respected English language newspaper, Sturgeon cited the 1984 Joint Declaration between the British and Chinese governments that set out the terms of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 – an agreement which protestors claimed last year that China was in danger of breaching.

“Be peaceful and lawful first of all,” said Sturgeon. “I believe strongly that fundamental freedoms such as freedom of assembly and freedom of expression must be protected.

“Here in Hong Kong, that would be in line with the Joint Declaration. Protest should be peaceful, democratic and positive.”

At this point there is no similarity between the independence referendum in Scotland last September and the ongoing campaign for greater democracy in Hong Kong in that there is no equivalent in China of an all-embracing Yes movement against a Better Together-type cohort. Even with Hong Kong independence not an issue, Sturgeon feels its citizens could involve themselves more in politics.

“You can’t draw direct parallels with what happened in Scotland with the situation in Hong Kong, obviously,” said Sturgeon. “But – and I say this very humbly – I think we have something to be proud of in what has happened over the past few years in Scotland.

“It said a lot and sent a message to the world that a country and its people could engage in large numbers in what was a very significant democratic political process with strongly divergent views, and do so peacefully. With a very few minor exceptions, that’s what we did and that would be my message – get engaged but on democratic and peaceful terms.”

Stressing she was not lecturing China, Hong Kong, their leaders and their people, Sturgeon added a call for cooperation between nations.

She said: “As somebody who has spent my whole adult life campaigning for Scotland to be an independent country, I wouldn’t appreciate other countries seeking to interfere with that decision.

“I don’t think it is my place to interfere or offer advice on these issues elsewhere in the world.

“I am a very, very strong believer that regardless of how countries choose to organise themselves and govern themselves, we live in a very interconnected world and the relations and partnerships between different countries are of paramount importance.”