I wouldn't say it's disingenuous... given that there's nothing legally preventing mainland-Chinese from choosing to live in HK, and then being quoted as people who want "their" city back.
Odd to think, but HK is now experiencing a real Red Scare, the likes of which the US only ever imagined in the depths of paranoid delusion. There are real (CCP) Communists, living amongst the HK citizenry, nudging HK's democracy (such as it is) toward their agenda by appearing to stand for "public sentiment"!
This is completely wrong.
Mainland-Chinese may only move to Hong Kong to reunite with family, and they have to apply for a One-Way Permit, which has a "quota of 150 people per day and the waiting time for spouses is currently 4 years": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_China_P...
To even visit Hong Kong requires applying for an Entry-Exit Permit in person, and duration is typically limited to 7 days: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit-Entry_Permit_for_Travelli...