I am still waiting for the NY Times to give an unbiased report about the situation in HK. It is fine and good for Chris Patten to talk about political liberty immediately before the handover, when HK residents have not been granted any political rights for 150 years under British rule. Police brutality is assumed to be true. How would the NYPD react if NYC subways stations are set on fire and destroyed, the police attacked by bricks, laser pointers and gasoline bombs, and Kennedy airport disrupted, repeatedly over a period of months? Please note that the leading HK activist Joshua Wong is free to come to the US to meet with US Senators and openly solicit support from Angela Merkel. The fact that Joshua Wong is allowed to attack China openly is an important point that no one seems to notice. When you report that the freedom of HK residents is being eroded, can you please do some research and elaborate?
6
I don't really see that Hong Kong has a way out. Chinese authorities definitely won't let Hong Kong become the first democratic city in China. It is worse than Hong Kong being independent. Hong Kong's future is tightly associated with mainland China, political system wise. Unless the political system in mainland China changes, otherwise the eroding would only goes faster.
1
Hong Kong is part of China PERIOD ... prior to the 1997 Brit-China withdrawal agreement, the people of HK did not enjoy any 'democratic rights' and the agreement promised them none after the withdrawal.
In 2047, all Hong Kongers will be subject to the laws that govern the rest of China without exception and it is this reality that the CIA/NED have used to foment, organize and finance the protests (that seemingly always end up as riots) to attempt to blacken China's name in the BIG Picture US-China clash.
1
I am Chinese, have worked in HK, and now live in the US. First, please stop the violence, for the sake of HK people. Support the police to finish their job, re-establish and keep a peaceful society.
Then, work things out. One problem is that mainland China just rises way too fast, faster than people can accept. From 27% to less than 3% of China GDP, Hong Kong people experience this change in 24 years. Try to think about that as a Hong Kong young people, when they were in elementary school, in 2000, they were the best part of china, open, modern, clean, free and rich. But now, when they grow up, just graduate from college, the old small village across the river is a larger economy than Hong Kong. How come that dirty, poor, communist mainland gets ahead of HK? And they even want us to join them and live like them?
My suggestion is, face the fact and join. HK people should have the wisdom to see and accept the fact, and base on the fact today to make your future. HK is part of China. HK people are Chinese people. Once, you are the smartest, prettiest kid of the family, but now your brothers are catching up and some of them make more money than you. Now, please gracefully congratulate them, learn from them and work even harder if you still want to be the best of your family. You just returned in 1997, why go back to that family who abducted you from 1841? Their family are facing their own troubles and will not care about you.
See those facts and move on, HK.
6
It’s not about the money
1
@Ix
Your view, unfortunately, is mistaken.
As a matter of fact, the core members in the protest are teenagers and people in their early twenties. When they were growing up, China was already a global economic powerhouse and Hong Kong's economy was in its worst in decades (it suffered two financial crises in ten years). These are people who never had the sense of superiority that was experienced by the older generations, who ironically tend to be the staunchest supporters of the Chinese government.
Another piece of fact. If you were in Hong Kong around ten years ago you should have witnessed that Hong Kong people were actually willing and happy to embrace a more prosperous China. Their sense of pride as Chinese during the Beijing Olympics was evident. But Hongkongers' acceptance of China is always conditioned upon China being willing to gradually reform its political system to become a more liberal and democratic regime.
Your assertion that Hongkongers are protesting because of their lost status simply cannot be supported by facts.
The growing alienation felt by Hongkongers toward China in the last ten years is triggered by two things. The first one is the intensifying authoritarianism in China, especially under Xi. The second one is that the Chinese government betrayed its promise to Hong Kong people over universal suffrage. If the Chinese government wants to win back Hong Kong people, reform its politcs and give Hong Kong people what they are owed.
12
"Shanghai’s stock market is now the leader for initial public offerings by state-owned Chinese companies, overtaking Hong Kong a decade ago." Caption for a photograph of what looks a lot more like Wall Street than Shanghai...
@t But it is actually Shanghai. I learned something today...
Don’t worry about a conventional war, open your eyes to the real threat of a global nuclear holocaust and the end of 7.7 billion humans on earth.
On Sept. 24, 1996, the United States and the world's other major nuclear powers signed a treaty to end all testing and development of nuclear weapons. Do you believe all nations having nuclear capabilities are being good boys and girls?
Man will self destruct whether by global warming climate or a global nuclear holocaust. May God protect us from our selves.
I've heard of the ultimate "doomsday bomb". Humans use most of their resources for their preoccupation with destruction, and that has impeded man's ability to cure diseases such as Alzheimer's, Ebola, Polio, Lupus Erythematosus, Influenza, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Asthma, Cancer, and the common cold.
What "protesters...?" They are "RIOTERS," who block major roads, destroy subway station equipments and buildings, etc...!
Come on, stop calling these criminals as "protesters...!"
3
@John D Which 'news' are you watching to get that perspective??
If Hong Kong loses its battle for democracy, it will be because the western democracies failed to fight for it.
8
My heart breaks for the brave people of Hong Kong. With global warming, the fight to keep individuals from being oppressed by their own governments is the challenge for this generation--and it is a fight we are also losing.
5
Beijing can diffuse a big swath of the discontent if it can restart the political reform and genuine universal suffrage promised in the Hong Kong’s Basic Law. There’s nothing Hongkongers want more than the opportunity to select their own leader whose main role is to represent Hongkongers’ interest ahead of those of Beijing’s.
9
It's huge mistake, which surprises me, since China is usually so careful. They look desperate, and it's having an effect on the entire Chinese population.
6
Britain's invasion and seizing of Hong Kong is characterized as "retribution", as though forcing a country to open its market through military force is somehow legitimate. I wonder what charitable words the authors have to describe British colonization of Africa and the dehumanization of Africans.
2
Hong Kong deserves to be free and independent from China. This is a horror show and they deserve the support of all western democracies.
9
One wonders at the sincerity of the initial boosters of “constructive engagement” vis a vis China, especially in the international business community.
FDI flows into China for the last 35 years would suggest our “job creators” are perfectly fine with the authoritarian model. Why mess up a good thing with all that troublesome democracy nonsense!
2
Hong Kong is not just an “island” as the article describes. It is a whole territory which includes the New Territories, Kowloon Peninsula, and many islands, one of which is HK Island.
3
@Richard Hannay
Yes, the reason Britain let it go was that HK Island, which they "owned" was not really severable from the rest, which they did not "own".
First we had "Make China great again." Now we have "China first." Sounds familiar, and just as dangerous on the Asian side of the world as the American side.
4
The people of Hong Kong are being clubbed because they stand up for democracy, and where is the United States? Being steered in circles by a madman who doesn't have both oars in the water.
Were you eager to see the funny good joke of voting for this guy play out? Well, here are todays headlines, folks!
Trump drained the swamp right into our living rooms.
11
HK is part of China, not an oversea territory of US. Right now HK has been used as front of global ideological battle against China, funded at least import foreign NGOs, plus NED and likely CIA. I can't find another place in the world which is subjected to so much foreign interference. Fundamentally the problem of HK is not with China, but itself, its democratic institutions are working, at least not very well. If we look across the Strait to Taiwan, which is going to re-elect DPP mainly on its anti-China stand despite its economy in tatters. All of this are happening with our Congress in the process of passing Taipei Act and Hong Kong Act. I'm wondering if China has any kind of anti-interference law on its book?
4
"Hong Kong’s economy relative to China’s gross domestic product (GDP) has fallen from a peak of 27 percent in 1993 to less than 3 percent in 2017." It is only a matter of time before China takes stronger approach to resolve Hong Kong issue. I am hoping there will be a massacre.
2
Hong Kong faces a Chinese regime whose stability multiplies its menace. This is our gift to the island's democratic uprising, since the durability and prosperity of China's vicious dictatorship owes more to the US than to any other factor.
The US took on China as our political and economic protégé in 1971. This was the long-anticipated "playing of the China Card" in the Cold War.
It was a straight-forward act against the USSR. And it was quite successful.
China, one of the worst tyrannies in the world, one that has now imprisoned a million Uighurs to break their culture, was sponsored by the US for admission to the all-important World Trade Organization and joined in 2001.
On the other hand, when democratic and cooperative Russia, having overthrown Communism, sought to join the WTO in 1993, it was forced to wait 18 years for acceptance because of the opposition of the US.
No other country had to wait this long.
We were happy to pamper the tyranny while harming the democracy.
Not a useful message to Beijing. Especially right now.
5
@alyosha
Alyosha, your comment implicates America as a SELF-INTEREST player. The problem is that self-interset is a function of time: what is good for you today, may not be good tomorrow.
Amerca has a mercantile ideology. In NONE of its relationships is America a supporter of FREEDOM but is a supporter of PROFIT.
In the 1960's America started moving manufacturing to Mexico, Maquiladora. In the 70's British and America companies SMELLED increased profits by manufacturing in China.
My wife and I got married, in England, in 1969 and I got my first job in Switzerland. We were aspiring for high-quality things. We ordered a 12 place cutlery set from Viners of Sheffield. Guess what got A good quality set, but made in China.
....
The original message to China was the correct one., but the Thump message, is non-functional.
1
I am an American who worked in the financial sector and lived in Hong Kong for six years. It was the most enchanting city I ever laid my eyes on. The contrast of the Tai Mo Shan Mountains and the Pearl River Delta with the gleaming sky scrapers is magical.
Unfortunately, Beijing has constricted the flow of written novels, media print, and free expression throughout the city. This is felt most acutely by the educated elite and student class. This is only the begging of assimilation.
Much like the Borg you will be assimilated by Beijing, resistance is futile. Beijing is destroying the fabric of this great city…these protestors are among the most courageous of souls fighting for democracy. The Trump Administration has turned its back on democracy around the world and Hong Kong is a prime example of that.
16
@IntrepidMan
I beg to differ. Every city in China has been rejuvenated by the Peoples Republic. Once the present riffraff is brought under control, HongKong will experience a renascence.
1
The story is very true. China is more like a scorpion bug. The only problem that promoted to Hong Kong is the protest that really disrupt the peace and tranquility to that country. What Hong Kong really need is peace, Justice and a good economy.
1
Many of the comments on this article push a false narrative that the protests have descended into riots or terrorism. Aside from this towing the party line and these posts are obvious PRC posing as Americans, if police can infiltrate the protests, turn heal and attack the protesters why can’t they also paint the protests more sinisterly causing the destruction themselves. Clearly they have the drive to hurt citizens property is not far off. Even if they are it’s a small minority and not the whole. Authoritarians love to paint their enemies with broad brush strokes.
11
@Rob K
The phrase is “toeing the party line.”
1
@Rob K It has never been shown who were the ones who did any violent deed. When it was revealed that police had dressed up in black like the protesters I think it is legitimate to ask were at least some of the violent acts been done by the police infiltrators in order to score some propaganda point against the protest movement? After all it has been done before.
2
@trblmkr
and turn "heel"
This was inevitable since the U.K. returned Hong Kong to the government in Beijing. No Communist state can tolerate liberal democratic governance, it would lead to the end of that form of government. China is an oligarchy that thinks that it’s a Marxist dictatorship of the proletariat. Under that kind of system of political authority, liberal democracy is a reactionary one that creates chaos and prevents the ascendancy of a truly ideal condition of mankind that is the real communism. Protecting that historically deterministic outcome justifies any means. But China is controlled by people who know no limits upon their authority and can never peacefully give it up.
15
The troubles that the proud citizens of Hong Kong are experiencing at the hands of the all powerful, dictatorial, freedom crushing government in Beijing have nothing to do with the current trade issues between that Communist regime and the United States. It is all about extinguishing the spark of civil rights and keeping Hong Kong the controlled money producer it has been.
8
The protests and riots in Hong Kong are damaging the economy of the city and the livelihood of all citizens. Can there be a clearer sign that Hong Kong is not ready for self-rule and democracy?
Mobs are driven by notions and prejudices, not reasons and goals. The Hong Kong protests are fueled by dislike of China, prejudice against the mainland Chinese who have immigrated to Hong Kong, and the exhilaration of rampage over work.
6
@AynRant
So the mobs attending King's March on Washington were "driven by notions and prejudices"?
Sometimes the people in the street are the sanest bunch--choking on tear-gas while we demean their democratic rights from our armchairs.
9
Sad though it is, I don’t see any scenario in which China does not get what it wants in Hong Kong. China will play a long game and chip away at the vestiges of democracy and autonomy until Hong Kong has been incorporated into mainland China.
Hong Kong is not sufficiently economically important to China for the PRC to allow it to operate semiautonomously or on special terms. At the time of handover in 1997, HK’s economy equated to more than 30% of Chinese GDP. That figure is now about 3%. China will not let the tail wag the dog.
28
@Andrew Actually, that has always been the deal. The Basic Law guarantees the system in Hong Kong will remain unchanged (capitalist) for 50 years. These 50 years are a transition period for eventual merger with China.
4
@M Yes - that's understood. The point is that Hong Kong will be for all intents and purposes part of the PRC long before 2047.
6
@Andrew My question is that while everyone says China plays the long game so, if that is true, what is the hurry to get HK "integrated" now instead of waiting for another 28 years? After all soon enough we will hear "Ten Thousand Years to Chairman Xi" again and 28 is not even a round off for ten thousand years. Does that mean Xi himself does not believe he will last that long?
2
Hong Kong's GDP went from 30% to 3% of China's from 1997 to present. Outside of the obvious fact that China's economy grew, I am curious if there are any news about how many "rich" Hong Konger left Hong Kong and brought that money with them causing a drop their economy. In my mind, their failure to re-invest in their own people is what led to these young Hong Konger's to engage in protests. It is similar to what is happening in the US when companies took their money to China and now there is huge inequality problems within our own US citizens.
2
@Nyu You're right. Hong Kong failed to invest in its people. It was busy flipping real estate, the get rich quick (without working) ethos. Hong Kong grew a lot too. It's just that the rest of the world, China in particular, grew a lot more. There is no reason Huawei, Alibaba and Tencent couldn't have been Hong Kong companies. In 1980 Hong Kong was several decades ahead of China in terms of wealth, technology, and everything else. And now? It's the hare and the tortoise story. Hong Kong fell asleep.
3
@M
China's focus is not limited to making Hongkongers even more rich than thay are. The Government of China is interested in NATION BUILDING. It has lifted 500'000'000 people from poverty to middle-class.
America and some other countries encourage financial treachery: off-shore companies, tax avoidance. I hope China succeeds in stopping this economic hemorrhage.
1
When I see pictures of demonstrators smashing store windows and causing property damage, in my mind they are no longer demonstrators but rioters.
6
They may have started out as protests, but clearly they are now demonstrably just wanton riots. Protest all you want. The bill that supposedly sparked this has already been withdrawn. How does burning subway stations and creating dangerous situations for non-participants get any support?
When rioters burned cities in the US 50 years ago they were uniformly condemned. What's different now?
8
The GOP/Trump are following failed policies . In 1932 they failed in a trade war and China said we will win inTrumps war. If he does not get impeached America and our climate looses for good.
1
One can't help but admire the idealism of Hong Kong's protesters. How many in the world, including Americans, appreciate freedom more than material wealth? Far fewer than we think.
Bravo, Hong Kong. Bravo.
17
It was inevitable- only those who have not followed the Chinese Communist Party since Xi has been in power are surprised by the current events.
Hong Kong will be just like China, because it is China - and the Chinese will insure that change happens, notwithstanding the protests.
China is an insidious Country that will look to undermine the US whenever it can.
Economic sanctions are the only way to try and counter it’s aggression; you’ll never stop the Communists from expanding their sphere of influence in the region....and that includes Hong Kong.
16
@JMS And the US, of course, is the world's guardian of morality and justice?
"Many Westerners expressed hope, however, that Hong Kong would help change China rather than the other way around, serving as a conduit for free enterprise and democratic ideas."
Ah, the idealism of the impossible. Just look at the size differential between the two entities, and in today's dog eat dog nationalist world, might makes right.
I find it ironic that Donald Trump, of all people, has contributed to Hong Kong's troubles, by his extreme tariff policies that are aiding mainland insurgency in its battle with tiny Hong Kong.
The youth of Hong Kong are defending an ideological vision that's increasingly under attack by authoritarianism growing stronger by the day all over the world. It's hard to see how they can prevail, given the strenghth and resources of the mainland.
14
The parable of the frog and the scorpion comes to mind. China is the scorpion and they will suppress Hong Kong because it is their nature to be authoritarian.
4
What you haven't reported is that ong Kong police, many actually Mandarin Chinese speakers from China, have been infiltrating the protesters to cause trouble.
Search the Hong Kong news and you will find videos of so-called protesters setting fire to trash bins or throwing firebombs and then getting into police cars to leave. NOT being arrested but rejoining their comrades.
Meanwhile persons living around Tienanmen Square have been ordered to keep their curtains closed and not approach the windows during the parade that will go right past their homes. They have also been told that their Internet will be completely cut off the day before and day of the 1 October parade.
37
@norman0000
China's progressive policy of allowing Autonomy for Hong Kong is being challenged by many Hong Kong residences. What you assert about police "plants" is likely true, but that has no bearing on China's opinion of the protests, only that of democracy sympathizers.
1
The protest movement is morphing into a terrorist movement like ISIS; people cleaning up Lennon walls are assaulted, elderly people on MTR are attacked by the protesters for disagreeing w their views, McDonald’s and Starbucks restaurants are vandalised. Ordinary Hong Kongers are disgusted w the protesters. Citizens call for a ban on masks; hopefully the police force can suppress the rioting but it looks increasingly likely the PLA must interfere
10
@Kris
There's nothing wrong for the protesters to defend themselves with force when necessary. I just saw a video showing a pro-Peking elderly man trying to throw a young activist off the bridge. When encountering threats like this, the actions of protesters are understandable.
If you look at the polls conducted by different universities of Hong Kong, you should realize that the movement received the overwhelming support from Hong Kong citizens. And the majority of them blame the Hong Kong government, Hong Kong police, and the Chinese government for the escalation of violence.
8
@Kris This is the story that is unreported in most of the western media. Most Chinese-including those overseas-look at rioting and mayhem with fear and disgust. The desire for tranquility is much greater than that for "democracy". Most Chinese view their history as cyclical, with periods of stability and relative peace interspersed with dynastic decline and fall. My Chineses relatives never fail to remind me of this. Although we cannot conduct proper social science surveys in that country, I suspect that the Hong Kong movement has more support in western capitals than in China itself.
3
@James Smith
You nailed it. That is exactly right.
The young protesters have been influenced by western ways and they do not realize that protests, especially violence, will not effect change in China. This is not "the Chinese way." Only working from within can ever bend the tree and that will take a long time in this nation of thousands of years and lots of patience.
2
Shān gāo, huángdì yuǎn - Mountain High, Emperor far Away
For 2000 years Chinese emperors have been judged by their ability to hold the country together against centrifugal forces .
The young of HK may not know Chinese History ,but Xi does
And Xi has no intention to enter Chinese History as a failure.
5
With my shallow historical knowledge about state building based on liberal-democratic ideas: they have never been part of Chinese culture. One country two systems were never going to last. Some variant of a Confucian-Legalist state, as we see a variant of in China today, will probably develop? Have the Chinese done a bad job?
China has little interest in supporting an "neutral ground" on its push for domination of Asia, In fact, as we can see, free people so close to its borders are a direct threat to its stability. What's more, Hong Kong is another rich economic plum for China's corrupt vultures to milk and they can't keep their hands away from it.
6
Milking the financially successful? Sounds like the Warren - Sanders "plan" to grab power by stealing money from one group and handing that money out to their political supporters.
2
So because authority will violently dampen the spirit of individuality the HK people are the wrong ones?
5
Some basic economic facts
"Hong Kong university graduates take home less pay than counterparts 30 years ago and one in six ends up in unskilled job, study finds
Median monthly starting salary of university graduate was HK$14,395 last year, compared with HK$20,231 in 1987"
South China Morning Post Dec 2018
2. "University graduates face tough competition and low salaries as they enter Hong Kong’s crowded workforce
Fresh graduates stand to earn about 9.6 per cent less than a quarter of a century ago with number of applicants greater than the skilled jobs on offer
With graduates accounting for 34 per cent of the city’s workers, analysts say a rethinking of attitudes towards certain jobs and sectors is needed"
South China Morning Post, May 2019
What is happening is that the salaries in HK for graduates are falling towards the Mainland level due to immigration of Mainland Chinese willing to work for less
As the article notes
"“Hong Kong is a good place for business,” said Trevor Ma, 31,
It is no longer a good place for the young.
4
You mean to say the gradual erosion of economic and political freedom since the handover of Hong Kong to the authoratarian leftist Communists in the late 1990's has reduced economic opportunities?
Who would have ever thought such a thing would occur?
1
The ongoing protests in Hong Kong were triggered by the introduction of the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, intending to extradite suspects in criminal cases back to China for trial. Amongst the demands was the future of university graduates. I was wondering which country in the world guarantees university graduates would earn a high-paid job and be given housing subsidies upon graduation. Hong Kong has a total of eight universities producing about 20,000 undergraduate students annually; it is hard and almost impossible for the graduates to find a high-paid and comfortable job without practical experience, not to mention the fact that Hong Kong is increasingly becoming a service-based society with very little jobs in the manufacturing sector and other technology-based professions. The Hong Kong SAR government has almost done nothing in the past 22 years to improve the situation and there are too many social issues to be solved and most importantly, Hong Kong people understand clearly the true intentions of the Chinese Government towards Hong Kong-as the Basic Law has failed to show Taiwan ‘one country two systems’ principle works, its regime would only tighten its control in Hong Kong. To think otherwise is only naive and foolish. While I support the protestors’ demand for a universal suffrage plus a fairer and open election for its top executive, I deplore the use of violence in making their voice heard.
2
We are playing double standard on HK.
First, the rule of law in HK was broken by the rioters. And no western media blame the law breakers. On the contrary, many western diplomats openly praised and met with some rioters in the name of promoting democracy and freedom. But it is the wrong way to do things.
Second, without help from outside sources providing financial, logistic, and training, these protests will never last the whole summer. It is the purpose to humiliate China at the time of the 70 years birthday of modern China.
Third, it is also a test of China's will to maintain its "One Country, Two Systems" policy. The situation is so far so good. China will not send PLA to HK to crush down the rioters. HK has to take care of its own business. If not, then HK is finished for good. It is up to the HKgers to rise in this occasion fighting for their own survival.
9
@Usok
1. When people use violence against a legitimate regime, they are rioters; when people use violence against a brutal tyranny, they are revolutionaries. There's nothing inherently wrong to use violent means to pursue liberty and democracy. Remember, the independence of the US was violently fought and won.
2. Hong Kong citizens are world class. The protesters are well educated and well qualified and many of them are actually quite well off. It should not be a surprise that they are having a world class resistance movement. Never underestimate Hongkongers when they mean business. They don't need anyone to tell them what to do.
9
@HY
The ultimate aim of the rioters is to spark similar unrests on the Mainland, which is an effort coordinated with the American economic war against China to foment civil unrest and chaos. The Americans cannot defeat China militarily or even economically, so this is their ultimate game plan. Once the Chinese economy craters and unemployment rises, it would be easy to incite civil unrest. What I saw today on the walls in Central were slogans about destroying the CCP. It has nothing to do with democracy in Hong Kong, because only if the CCP falls could HK become truly autonomous (and ruled by the revolutionary committee, like the French Revolution). However, if that happens, there would not be much left in HK. People with ulterior motives such as Kyle Bass, who is heavily shorting Chinese assets, and Peter Navarro, who bears a grudge, are advising the White House. Soros just lost about $100M shorting the HK market, thanks to HK government intervention. His foundation has been financing the movement, and he freely admits it . All sorts of people have all sorts of reasons to fan the flames. The only thing I am certain about is that once social unrest happens in China, it will lead to an absolute catastrophe.
If the CCP regime collapses, it would ultimately lead to anther authoritarian regime, probably even more oppressive. It has been this way all throughout history. That's why all sane people wish the CCP to reform from within, rather than an abrupt rupture.
4
@Adrian your assertion is laughable. It is China that wants to foment economic and social chaos in America, not the other way around.
2
Hm, it seems that some of the comments hew very close to the line held by the Chinese Government. While it is possible that reflects the opinion of the writers, is it possible that we have to question the sources?
43
They're calling it a "riot" in unison, no doubt for pay. They're not worth the dignity of further consideration.
Economy is not worth humanity, there nor here. "Job creation" ought never to come at the expense of voter and internet freedom, nor the sanity of government.
xi must go. Use your power for good, "People's" Army.
3
@Marc
If you read Breitbart you will find many people who "hew very close" to Trump's line. Do you question their sincerity because you disagree with them?
The idea that the dreaded CCP controls the thoughts and behavior of the a billion Chinese individuals or anyone who happens to support China's growth is not merely paranoid and inaccurate, it is the view supported by ALL U.S. corporate media. That might give you pause if you are concerned about public brainwashing. Is there media manipulation by every government? Of course. Our president is invoking it now. But that does not mean that people who disagree with your point of view are all 'bots', or as we say in China 'Wumao'.
1
This is one of the best news analysis and commentary on the current Hong Kong situation from a major outlet (Bloomberg and its affiliated journalists on Twitter are unreadable, rather disappointing) by looking at the unfolding of events in a 4 dimension matter.
People don't seem to know 18th Century Chinese history and the plights of the Uighur and Tibetan minorities to realize HKSAR will never be an independent entity.
And the HK people might not want if they have thought through the scenario either. Why, are the young people ready for mandatory conscriptions? Are they ready to give up their foreign passports? While housing is difficult now, they will have a taste of economic dislocation with this protest/riot, never mind if China blockade the territory financially.
Anson Chan is rather sly about the British negotiation with China before the 1997 return. Face it, the British track record with the Middle East, India, Pakistan and now Hong Kong don't leave her any rooms to appear high and almighty. Colonalism is coming home to roost.
Ultimately, instead of burning their own homes down, the protesters should make HKSAR as indispensable to China as possible to maintain its leverage. This column alludes to the Shanghai and HK stock exchanges. China doesn't need Hong Kong to access outside world anymore. The world's companies want to access 1.3B consumers. The U.S.'s dumb TPP move has also allowed China to assert its Belt & Road initiative.
8
@Bos
There are some people (both local and foreign) who hope to realise political, geopolitical and/or financial gain by inciting the riots. The young people, all ignorant of political reality, are being used. They have been led to believe that they are fighting for democracy and independence, when there is no hope of complete political autonomy unless the whole country breaks up due to civil war. But if this ever happens, however remote the possibility, it would be a Pyrrhic victory. It would take decades to rebuild the country. Those people supporting and encouraging the rioters behind the scenes know very well that they are sacrificing these young people for their own ulterior motives.
2
@Adrian
To be fair, there are staunch anti-communists in HK who don't trust China with good reasons.
To fill in some background information for this column, many older folks or their parents were refugees from China after the communists took over. For a while, they believed in the (re)building of a new China until Mao turned on them as a way to consolidate his power. Then there was the Cultural Revolution. During the tumultuous 60s, especially the riotous 67, HK Government at the time had managed to turn the popular opinion against communist China. Who could forget the hogtied corpses floating down the Pearl River!
Mind you, Xi is the survivor as well as product of the Cultural Revolution.
That said, the older folks who finance the current protest/riot and some of the leaders, for that matter, are likely to have their Plan B ready. Many have their Canadian, U.S., Australian and New Zealand passports if and when things go really bad. But what about those who are clueless. They will be left holding the bag
2
"protesters filling Hong Kong’s streets accuse China of breaching a deal that was supposed to protect the territory’s democratic norms"
A clever elision of the fact that China is not, in fact, breaching a deal that was supposed to protect the territory’s democratic norms.
In fact, China's only breach, if we can call it that, is to mildly suggest that the HK government exercise its constitutional right to resume land desperately needed for public housing–as Singapore does.
Otherwise, nothing has been 'eroded.' Hong Kong still enjoys British democracy, a British leader (she and her family hold British citizenship), British judges, British police officers, English as its official language and freedom from Chinese taxes on its businesses and citizens, who are among the richest on earth.
No, it is the Colony's British politics that have brought it low: it now enjoys the same levels of child poverty and homelessness as the Mother Country.
8
Lam renounced her British Citizenship in 2007, no?
4
@Simon Li
Yes she did, she had to in order to take up her post. It seems that Mr. Roberts is woefully ill-informed.
4
@Loop
Mrs. Lam has admitted that she will emigrate to the UK once her term ends. And with her husband and sons holding British nationality, it would not be difficult for her to regain it. So technically, she has renounced her citizenship, but practically, it makes no difference.
5
First Hong Kong, then Taiwan.
Unless this latter gets nuclear capabilities - preferably, yesterday.
Because, let's be honest, the last few years have pretty much taught allies and rivals that when puch comes to shove, you rather do not rely on the willingness of a US president to stamp the foot down and stand by an ally, if there are risks involved.
Of course, once Taiwan,
2
It was perhaps the only choice there was, but foolish nonetheless to think in 1997 that Authoritarian leadership in Beijing would actually allow Hong Kong to operate under its freer system for 50 years. Even if the Chinese leaders at the time were willing to allow that, such freedom was always going to be experienced as a threat to their control over the rest of the population. And, of course, in being hopeful, big assumptions were made about what would happen during and at the end of those 50 years. I fear that this will not end well for Hong Kong's people.
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@Anne-Marie Hislop
I think the (hubristic) assumption was that China would be the one to change.
1
@trblmkr
True
1
This article is built on a flawed assumption. It is not the Hong Kong govt's actions that have threatened the status of Hong Kong; it is the actions of the rioters. The police are by nature reactive; they respond to the growing threat. It the forces backing the rioters (foreign and domestic) that are pushing things into a confrontation.
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@Tim
So true.
Moreover, only 16% of the Hong Kongers are protesting - the rest are not. These protesters are not doing anything but harming the place they live. Their approach to dissent is not a winning one. They ought to figure out how to make change from the inside. That is the only thing that ever worked in China over thousands of years.
1
Hong Kong is no longer necessary as China's economic portal. Shanghai and Shenzhen and Guangzhou are preferable conduits.
Riots will not change HK's subsidiary status; they will merely expedite HKs absorption into the mainland by rapidly diminishing what little financial clout HK still possesses. The world (other than Western journalists in HK eavesdropping on the mainland now that they have been denied PRC visas), could care less about HK's historic special status.
13
Mainland cities serve very different role than HK. Shanghai is just a national financial center and it’s status severely limited by various policies.
1
@Supernova
Policies crafted and initiated and enforced by Beijing. Those policies are gradually being modified to reduce HK's market participation. The world clamors for access to the China's consumer market, now the world's largest. Beijing defines that access.
1
@john
Exactly.
Hong Kong youth who want to see change ought to learn that protests and outside agitation will never be effective in moving China, a nation of thousands of years of history and dynasties which lasted for several hundred years each. The protesters have learned a western method of dissent that will fail. Only working from within can change this nation with longevity and lots of patience. Protesting especially violently has never been successful in changing China.
2