Any links to the origin of these movements? Personally it seems a very bizarre strategy to use independence to bargain (it will for sure provoke rather than evoking 'decency'). Any chinese would agree I think. I lived in Ireland for nearly a decade and the wounds of the Trouble never heal between the very Irish people. And Ireland is way more democratic and tolerant than China.
The sentiment gradually shifted, because they lost whatever hope or trust that is left with the government.
It is still not a mainstream view, but it isn't so much a "hoax" like it was same time last year.