China and Hong Kong’s patriots have finally moved to liberate the Hong Kong Special Autonomous from its last vestiges of neo-colonial rule. Since the 1997 turnover, Hong Kong's educational, judicial and political systems gave undue advantage to Anglophile Hong Kong people and were used against its government. Now with the principle of “Patriots Only” to rule Hong Kong, a more authentic “One Country, Two Systems” will come into fruition.
The Philippines should be very glad that China and Hong Kong are now removing the last vestiges Western neo-colonialism in Hong Kong, one less danger of the return of Western hegemonism to Asia. The Philippines now depends on Asia, its economic health depends on a peaceful and stable Asia – and China for that matter, as well as Hong Kong itself the fifth largest trading partner of the Philippines and where 250,000 OFWs work and remit over $ 1-billion annually.
The West, namely Britain, the U.S., their politicians and media have been up-in-arms against the political-electoral reforms or “improvement” as it is described, being instituted in Hong Kong today, claiming it tolls the death knell for democracy in the Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region (HKSAR) which, for that matter was never democratic – and ruled by a British Governor directly appointed by the Queen — in the entire 156 years of British rule.
Hong Kong was turned over to China by the British in 1997 with the agreement that Hong Kong’s capitalist system would be preserved, a condition China has met to this day and going forward to the future, even after this current post -electoral reforms process being implemented. Premier Deng Xiaoping very creatively phrased the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” to guide the implementation of the agreement.
There is a clear logic in the Deng principle which placed the “One Country” ahead of the “Two Systems”, indubitably emphasizing the unity of the HKSAR with China. Socialist China did not interfere with the capitalist system of Hong Kong, a situation which the poorer sectors of the Hong Kong people may actually wish were not so – some Hong Kong people would actually like more socialistic programs such as lower cost land, more affordable (or free) and comfortable housing and the like.
What is really intriguing in studying Hong Kong’s system after the 1997 turnover and the period from 2011 to 2019 of Hong Kong’s troubles and tribulations Hong Kong’s Anglophile elements is how the Hong Kong cultural and political system stayed neo-colonial throughout and supported the anti-China elements’ rambunctious opposition. Two aspects stand out, the schools and universities were left alone to impart Sino-phobia and the judicial system retained the service of British judges.
These two aspects help explain the 2019 “democracy protests” massive demonstrations and success. Hence, the massive turnout of youth and students in the anti-government demonstrations becomes very understandable. The second is the judicial system biased against the HKSAR government authorities which voted against a police-ban on face masks (before the COVID-19 pandemic) on demonstrators who used the anonymity to wage violence against government and citizens.
It was amazing to read the report of one Hong Kong teacher teaching that the Opium War caused by the British banning the use of Opium in China which is complete claptrap. The furor over the distorted teaching of Opium history finally got the teacher “deregistered” or fired, but this was no rare incident.
Before the democracy activists’ face masks were finally banned, anti-government demonstrators made face masks their shield of impunity. Rioters, vandals, Molotov cocktail throwers, demonstrators harassing and mugging unsupportive civilians, hid identities safely behind the masks. One anti-activist worker in a dispute with a pro-democracy activist was doused with flammable liquid, lit and hospitalized with third degree burns and the assailant could not be identified because of the mask.
It was inexplicable that the Hong Kong courts had initially decided the ban on masks at demonstrations was unconstitutional, tying the hands of the police in catching violence offenders. The HK government and the police invoked a 1922 British emergency law to impose a ban on the masks yet the HK courts declared it “unconstitutional”. It was only after two months of back-and-forth that Hong Kong’s highest court upheld the government ban on demonstrators’ face mask.
While the Hong Kong courts dilly dallied the Hong Kong people who love their country were at the mercy of the demonstrators. We saw images on social media of civilians opposing the bullying pro-democracy demonstrators being abused and beaten up, while the Hong Kong police which showed infinite self-control and restraint, waving warning banners before charging at illegal demonstrator, suffered Molotov cocktails, bricks and steel barricades and even arrows aimed at them.
The Chinese government has taken pains to spread out across the world their explanation for the electoral reforms in Hong Kong, and to repeat, we Filipinos should welcome those reforms, for as China’s ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Huang Xilian said in his explanation:
“… There are hundreds of thousands of Filipinos working or living in Hong Kong, who are also the beneficiaries of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ as well as Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. I believe that the improving of the electoral system of the HKSAR will not only provide a more peaceful and stable social environment for the Filipinos in Hong Kong, but also create a more stable political environment and a more predictable business environment for the enterprises from all the countries including the Philippines. Hong Kong's tomorrow will be better… ”
Herman Tiu Laurel is an author, writer and founder of the Phil-BRICS Strategic Studies think tank. Join his: “Power Thinks” with Ka Mentong Laurel and guests – Every Wednesday 6pm Live on Global Talk News Radio [GTNR] on Facebook and Talk News TV on YouTube; and Every Sunday 8 to 10am on RP1 738 on your AM radio dial.