Next on China’s 'My Way' List: Hong Kong

Next on China’s 'My Way' List: Hong Kong

Push is rapidly coming to shove between China and Hong Kong, which bills itself as the “World City.” If the world doesn’t sit up and take notice soon, the political future of the autonomous territory could be imperiled and things could end badly all around.

A degree of antagonism between the mainland and Hong Kong’s democracy advocates has been a feature of life in the territory since Britain handed its colony back to China in 1997 under a legally inscribed formula called “one country, two systems.” Hong Kong was designated a Special Administrative Region and guaranteed 50 years of autonomous self-government, including direct elections and universal suffrage.

Related: China’s Strategy Has Completely Eluded Washington

But the friction now intensifies, and for the time being, at least, there appears no stepping back on either side. Two weeks ago, China’s State Council, its administrative authority, issued­ an unprecedented “white paper,” “The Practice of ‘Two Systems’ in the HKSAR.” The gist is that China will place “one country” before “two systems” from here on out.


Beijing’s paper has provoked a firestorm in the territory. Advisedly or otherwise, it was published in response to one event and in anticipation of another:

• It followed by a week the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre and Beijing’s declaration of martial law in 1989. Hong Kongers always mark the occasion; this year up to 150,000 peaceably poured into the streets.

• It arrived 10 days before Occupy Central (the liveliest of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy groups, named for the territory’s business and financial district) opened an online referendum on the question of a directly elected chief executive, as the post-colonial governor is titled.

Beijing and the Hong Kong government both condemned the unofficial poll as illegal. When the online mechanism immediately suffered an apparent cyber-attack, Occupy Central did not hesitate to accuse the mainland of sabotage. In response, the group opened 15 polling stations around the territory and extended the vote by a week.

Related: China’s Bold Power Play Pushes Asia to the Brink

All of which makes the results so far the more embarrassing. By Sunday evening, Occupy had counted almost 700,000 ballots, all favoring one form or another of free, open polling.

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People were asking some questions when the whole Russia-Ukraine-Crimea issue popped up, wanting to know why China took the position it did.

Here would be a possible answer. When Hong Kong was handed back over to China from the UK, the agreement called for Hong Kong having 50 years of essentially self rule - the One China 2 system setup. Apparently China did not want to wait for the 50 years to be up and issued a White Part, stating One China comes first.

This is going to be interesting to watch.

Been keeping eye on that .. latest heard was hk presented a request to the mainland to run their own candidates in elections .. dont think china would pull a putin with hk more likely theyll work out a deal of some type ..

originally posted by: Expat888
Been keeping eye on that .. latest heard was hk presented a request to the mainland to run their own candidates in elections .. dont think china would pull a putin with hk more likely theyll work out a deal of some type ..

In this case Hong Kong is a part of China, who has Chinese military units stationed there. China is going back on the agreement for political freedom and its pissed some people off. The illegal referendum that was held according to China has been extended.

China can't support Russia's position on Crimea, since Russia went down the road of referendums and the right of the people to determine their own leadership / future. It would be difficult for china to support Russia while at the same time ignoring the very situation in Hong Kong.

How china reacts should give some insight on possibilities on Taiwan. If this issue escalates to the UN I am curious if Russia will support Chinese actions.

a reply to: Xcathdra

With most chinese being more interested in making money doing business these days most likely they will make a backroom settlement before letting it get to the stage of going to the u.n .. as they make alot of money from hk they arent about to kill the cashcow.. in a way it was inevitable due the differences that came about while hk was under british control and mainland under communist control theyre still integrating capitalism the hiccups along the way were to be expected ..
In event it going to the u.n most likely russia would support china as the ties between the two have been getting stronger in recent years .. plus neither will risk the recent joint oil deal falling apart both need it to carry through as it was set up theres more trade agreements in the works between the two currently ..

The current president of china is smart he knows they will gain more making a settlement .. most of the saber rattling is more face saving than anything ..

taiwans bit more tricky as theres long been bad blood between the two .. hard to say how that can go ..

Not related but as example chinese diplomats working hard at moment with vietnam to settle the hornets nest they stirred up there ..

Politics in this part of the world get confusing fast and theres alot beneath the surface that outsiders miss .. its not as cut and dried as western politics ..

This definetly one to follow as your correct it will be setting some precedents for future relations around the region ..

a reply to: Xcathdra

Hong Kong citizens saw the hand writing on the wall in the beginning. That's one reason there were so many well populated demonstrations at the beginning. They knew that precedent was being set . . . and that increasingly Beijing would tighten the screws.

They were right.

They had few to no options. They were trapped. I'd guesstimate that Thousands left.

Arrogance in high positions knows no limit and tolerates no limit. Power mongering feeds on power mongering.

And part of the Chinese ethos, cultural psyche is to revere fiercely strong autocratic power . . . a la after the EMPERIAL millenia of China.

So tyrants have a much easier time in China, of getting away with it . . . for far too long.

The Emperor is also expected to lovingly care for his people. And that if he doesn't, 'Heaven' will depose him.

But toooo many more or less passively wait for "Heaven" to do it.

In Hong Kong's case . . . their god is money . . . and it is likely very easy, even habit for them to keep their hypnotized focus on MAKING MONEY and hoping against hope that Beijing's intrusive demands are minimized and not that torturous.

They like to recite that "The Emperor and Beijing are far away from us."

Nevertheless, they know . . . that the secret police are only an early morning knock on the door away.
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