Advertisement
LettersWhy the old Hong Kong will endure, despite new challenges
- The advantages of maintaining Hong Kong’s system will outweigh the threats perceived by Beijing and the Communist Party
1-MIN READ1-MIN
I refer to “China trying to ‘erode democratic elements’, ‘eliminate dissenting voices’ in Hong Kong with electoral reform, G7 says” (March 13).
The past “century of humiliation” is embedded in the psyche of Chinese people, and it is the painful bedrock from which Han nationalism springs. It is hard to imagine China once again being subjugated by Western powers.
The Chinese system draws on propaganda, censorship by means of new technology, and the use of fear. As perceived by the mainland, Hong Kong has always been a reminder of the painful past. Thus, there has never been complete autonomy since the handover from Britain to China; rather, a slow movement towards unification with the mainland has picked up more speed recently.
China is strongly protective of the core precepts of its current political economy, which it defines as “socialism with Chinese characteristics”. Pressure on corporate Hong Kong is already visible in companies in the city that are dominated by mainland board members.
The question I would like to ask is: will China and the Communist Party members who have benefited from Hong Kong’s status as a loosely regulated financial centre continue to protect its existence?
Select Voice
Select Speed
1x
AI-generated voice