Calls for full democracy
While there is a great deal more freedom in Hong Kong, 15 years after the handover from British colonial rule many Hong Kong residents fear that China is reneging on its promises. With only 12 hundred people eligible to vote in a city of 7 million, residents are calling for a bigger say in the war the Special Administrative Region is run. Beijing says that it has considered a real election allowing everyone to directly elect its leader by 2017 and legislators by 2020.
Although full universal suffrage was never granted by the British to its colony before the handover in 1997, some democratisation began in 1984. However little has changed over the last 18 years despite countless protests calling for greater democracy in the region.
In accordance with the "One country, two systems" principle agreed between the UK and the PRC, the socialist system of PRC would not be practiced in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and its way of life would remain unchanged for a period of 50 years until 2047.
While there is a great deal more freedom in Hong Kong, 15 years after the handover from British colonial rule many Hong Kong residents fear that China is reneging on its promises. With only 12 hundred people eligible to vote in a city of 7 million, residents are calling for a bigger say in the war the Special Administrative Region is run. Beijing says that it has considered a real election allowing everyone to directly elect its leader by 2017 and legislators by 2020.
Although full universal suffrage was never granted by the British to its colony before the handover in 1997, some democratisation began in 1984. However little has changed over the last 18 years despite countless protests calling for greater democracy in the region.
In accordance with the "One country, two systems" principle agreed between the UK and the PRC, the socialist system of PRC would not be practiced in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and its way of life would remain unchanged for a period of 50 years until 2047.
Unfair elections
However, mainland China has maintained a firm grip on power over the SAR and many of the political candidates are hand-picked by Beijing. In the Hong Kong Chief Executive election of 2012 Albert Ho Chun-yan stood little chance in being elected. He faced off with two pro-Beijing opponents, Leung Chun-ying and Henry Tang. Both were backed by the Chinese Communist Party, and there are widespread allegations that Leung himself was even a member. Both have also been accused, by opponents, of being involved in various scandals ranging from extra-marital affairs to corruption.
As the electorate of only 0.02% of the Hong Kong population went to the polls in March, others held their own mock election to protest the lack of true democracy [Al Jazeera - YouTube] . But such protests fall on deaf ears, and are certainly not reported in mainland China. And with most of those voting showing loyalty to Beijing it was no surprise that Leung clinched the leadership role.
However, mainland China has maintained a firm grip on power over the SAR and many of the political candidates are hand-picked by Beijing. In the Hong Kong Chief Executive election of 2012 Albert Ho Chun-yan stood little chance in being elected. He faced off with two pro-Beijing opponents, Leung Chun-ying and Henry Tang. Both were backed by the Chinese Communist Party, and there are widespread allegations that Leung himself was even a member. Both have also been accused, by opponents, of being involved in various scandals ranging from extra-marital affairs to corruption.
As the electorate of only 0.02% of the Hong Kong population went to the polls in March, others held their own mock election to protest the lack of true democracy [Al Jazeera - YouTube] . But such protests fall on deaf ears, and are certainly not reported in mainland China. And with most of those voting showing loyalty to Beijing it was no surprise that Leung clinched the leadership role.
Protests & scuffles
His win was celebrated this last week by mainland China who sent president Hu Jintao to Hong Kong to attend the inauguration of the Hong Kong chief executive. But he was not given a warm reception and faced protests, heckles and a critical media.
As Hu made a speech during the swearing in of Hong Kong's new leader one man interrupted the Chinese president [Guardian]. Election committee member, Ken Tsang shouted slogans, demanding an end of one-party rule in China and the vindication of the bloody crackdown at Tiananmen Square in 1989, before being wrestled away by several security personnel [ITN - video].
Earlier, a reporter for Hong-Kong-based tabloid-style newspaper the Apple Daily was dragged away after attempted to ask Hu Jintao a question. "Chairman Hu, have you heard that Hong Kong people hope for a redress of the June 4 incident?," the reporter shouted from behind a press cordon as the Chinese president visited a new cruise ship terminal in Hong Kong. The reporter was bundled away by security and held for 15 minutes by plainclothes police and told that he was "loudly disrupting order and breaking the rules." [Apple Daily - Chinese / BBC / Guardian / Houston Chronicle]
Apple Daily also alleged that one of their photographers was warned off taking pictures of the motorcade carrying the Chinese leader. According to the paper a sniper from a helicopter sighted him and shined a yellow light on his face and eyes as a warning [Apple Daily - Chinese].
Strict security
The strict security which included Dolphin helicopters, snipers armed with HKG36 assault rifles, marine police launches and deployments of police on bridges and buildings around the city did not deter tens of thousands taking to the streets in protest against Chinese rule.
Streets were packed with demonstrators, some even carrying British colonial flags, who called for the right to elect their own leaders and for a greater say in the way the region is run [BBC / CBC / NYT / VOA / Washington Post / WSJ / RightNow I/O // Video reports: CNN / Al Jazeera / NTD TV].
His win was celebrated this last week by mainland China who sent president Hu Jintao to Hong Kong to attend the inauguration of the Hong Kong chief executive. But he was not given a warm reception and faced protests, heckles and a critical media.
As Hu made a speech during the swearing in of Hong Kong's new leader one man interrupted the Chinese president [Guardian]. Election committee member, Ken Tsang shouted slogans, demanding an end of one-party rule in China and the vindication of the bloody crackdown at Tiananmen Square in 1989, before being wrestled away by several security personnel [ITN - video].
Earlier, a reporter for Hong-Kong-based tabloid-style newspaper the Apple Daily was dragged away after attempted to ask Hu Jintao a question. "Chairman Hu, have you heard that Hong Kong people hope for a redress of the June 4 incident?," the reporter shouted from behind a press cordon as the Chinese president visited a new cruise ship terminal in Hong Kong. The reporter was bundled away by security and held for 15 minutes by plainclothes police and told that he was "loudly disrupting order and breaking the rules." [Apple Daily - Chinese / BBC / Guardian / Houston Chronicle]
Apple Daily also alleged that one of their photographers was warned off taking pictures of the motorcade carrying the Chinese leader. According to the paper a sniper from a helicopter sighted him and shined a yellow light on his face and eyes as a warning [Apple Daily - Chinese].
Strict security
The strict security which included Dolphin helicopters, snipers armed with HKG36 assault rifles, marine police launches and deployments of police on bridges and buildings around the city did not deter tens of thousands taking to the streets in protest against Chinese rule.
Streets were packed with demonstrators, some even carrying British colonial flags, who called for the right to elect their own leaders and for a greater say in the way the region is run [BBC / CBC / NYT / VOA / Washington Post / WSJ / RightNow I/O // Video reports: CNN / Al Jazeera / NTD TV].
Pepper sprayed
On Saturday police had to shield the president from demonstrators, and officers used pepper spray to disperse crowds who were demanding an investigation into the death in China of a Tiananmen activist, Li Wangyang, earlier this year. He had supposedly committed suicide but many of his supporters both inside and outside the mainland believe he was murdered [Bloomberg].
Even a senior Hong Kong official has described the death of Chinese dissident Li Wangyang as suspicious [BBC]. Reports in state run media reports in Hong Kong have said that an investigation would be conducted and that a verdict would be published "in a timely manner" [HKCNA - Chinese]. However there is a great deal of skepticism amongst pro-democracy campaigners [BBC].
Abandoned by Britain
When Margaret Thatcher signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration with Deng Xiaoping in 1984 there was criticism from many Hong Kong residents that they had been abandoned to a totalitarian regime. During one meeting before the press and interested parties she was asked whether her decision was ethical.
"Prime Minister, on Wednesday you signed an agreement with China promising to deliver the handover of 5 million people into the hands of a Communist dictatorship. Is this morally defensible?" Emily Lau, a Hong Kong Legislative Councillor at the time, asked.
Thatcher dismissed her concerns saying her views were likely the exception. "I think you would have had great cause to complain had the government of Great Britain done nothing until 1997. And I believe that most of the people, indeed the overwhelming number of people in Hong Kong think the same," the then Prime Minister responded [ITN - YouTube / ABC full transcript].
Past regrets
More than two decades later and ten years after the handover to China, Margaret Thatcher expressed her regret at not being able to negotiate an extension of the lease. In a radio interview with the BBC she said she faced an "impossible" situation. The interview secured with David Tang a was broadcast as part of the BBC Radio 4 series Hong Kong: A Decade of Change [Telegraph].
"What I wanted was a continuation of British administration," she said. "But when this proved impossible, I saw the opportunity to preserve most of what was unique to Hong Kong through applying Mr Deng's [one country, two systems] idea to our circumstances."
When Margaret Thatcher signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration with Deng Xiaoping in 1984 there was criticism from many Hong Kong residents that they had been abandoned to a totalitarian regime. During one meeting before the press and interested parties she was asked whether her decision was ethical.
"Prime Minister, on Wednesday you signed an agreement with China promising to deliver the handover of 5 million people into the hands of a Communist dictatorship. Is this morally defensible?" Emily Lau, a Hong Kong Legislative Councillor at the time, asked.
Thatcher dismissed her concerns saying her views were likely the exception. "I think you would have had great cause to complain had the government of Great Britain done nothing until 1997. And I believe that most of the people, indeed the overwhelming number of people in Hong Kong think the same," the then Prime Minister responded [ITN - YouTube / ABC full transcript].
Past regrets
More than two decades later and ten years after the handover to China, Margaret Thatcher expressed her regret at not being able to negotiate an extension of the lease. In a radio interview with the BBC she said she faced an "impossible" situation. The interview secured with David Tang a was broadcast as part of the BBC Radio 4 series Hong Kong: A Decade of Change [Telegraph].
"What I wanted was a continuation of British administration," she said. "But when this proved impossible, I saw the opportunity to preserve most of what was unique to Hong Kong through applying Mr Deng's [one country, two systems] idea to our circumstances."
Future hopes & fears
For ordinary people in Hong Kong the concerns hinge around democracy, freedom and their own economic situation with a growing rich poor divide. For the business community, there are fewer concerns.
Richard Beales, a banker and columnist with Reuters, says that CY Leung was a "bit different" from past leaders and offered new change [Reuters - YouTube]. "Hong Kong is hitched to China and there is no escaping that," Beales says. But the key issue is whether Leung will be able to implement reforms.
Any reforms are likely to be slight, and mainly focused on economic prosperity. There is a growing sense of anger amongst anger amongst many people who are unhappy with record property prices, an increasing wealth gap, a lack of democracy and a string of political scandals.
For ordinary people in Hong Kong the concerns hinge around democracy, freedom and their own economic situation with a growing rich poor divide. For the business community, there are fewer concerns.
Richard Beales, a banker and columnist with Reuters, says that CY Leung was a "bit different" from past leaders and offered new change [Reuters - YouTube]. "Hong Kong is hitched to China and there is no escaping that," Beales says. But the key issue is whether Leung will be able to implement reforms.
Any reforms are likely to be slight, and mainly focused on economic prosperity. There is a growing sense of anger amongst anger amongst many people who are unhappy with record property prices, an increasing wealth gap, a lack of democracy and a string of political scandals.
China's dilemma
China has in many ways made a rod for its own back by its reclamation of the Hong Kong peninsula. While the handover boosted national pride within the mainland, the one country two systems is becoming a thorn in the side for Beijing.
There are contradictions faced by the Chinese Communist Party concerning its treatment of Hong Kong and the rest of China. While the calls for greater democracy will grow in Hong Kong, those living on the mainland will also wonder why they too cannot have the same rights and freedoms.
By imposing similar restrictions and rules in Hong Kong as seen on the mainland will likely create social unrest. To ignore the calls for democracy in the mainland will also become more troublesome for China's authorities.
More and more the new generations will ask why some Chinese, those in Hong Kong, can vote, access a free Internet and protest while others cannot. China could gradually move towards a free and democratic state, based on similar principles seen in Hong Kong, which itself needs to improve democratically.
But many in Hong Kong fear that Beijing is likely to become more assertive and draconian. There are certainly no signs that the CCP is willing to relinquish its grip on power just yet.
tvnewswatch, London, UK
China has in many ways made a rod for its own back by its reclamation of the Hong Kong peninsula. While the handover boosted national pride within the mainland, the one country two systems is becoming a thorn in the side for Beijing.
There are contradictions faced by the Chinese Communist Party concerning its treatment of Hong Kong and the rest of China. While the calls for greater democracy will grow in Hong Kong, those living on the mainland will also wonder why they too cannot have the same rights and freedoms.
By imposing similar restrictions and rules in Hong Kong as seen on the mainland will likely create social unrest. To ignore the calls for democracy in the mainland will also become more troublesome for China's authorities.
More and more the new generations will ask why some Chinese, those in Hong Kong, can vote, access a free Internet and protest while others cannot. China could gradually move towards a free and democratic state, based on similar principles seen in Hong Kong, which itself needs to improve democratically.
But many in Hong Kong fear that Beijing is likely to become more assertive and draconian. There are certainly no signs that the CCP is willing to relinquish its grip on power just yet.
tvnewswatch, London, UK
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