When Hong Kong was handed over to Communist China by the British state, to much joy and acclamation by credulous Chinese and Gweilos alike, the totalitarian gerontocracy in Peking pronounced soothingly that Hong Hong would retain its relatively liberal order under a doctrine ‘One nation, two systems’.
Tens of thousands of people have marched in protest at a planned anti-subversion law aimed at an EU style ‘harmonizing’ of Hong Kong law with that of the rest of Communist China. One nation, one system it would seem.
…the government is pushing through the national-security legislation, known as the “Article 23” measures, too quickly, and without enough public debate. The proposal is in many ways an attempt to bring Hong Kong’s laws regarding subversion, treason, sedition and the theft of “state secrets” in line with China’s.
Well it comes as no surprise to me that these patent lies only took six years to be revealed. I look forward to hearing the people who rejoiced at the surrender of Hong Kong’s people to China recanting their folly. I am not holding my breath however.
The Chinese way of dealing with effective protests
(WSJ link via Combustable Boy)
Any coincidence that Chris Patten was involved in the Hong Kong sell-out, and is now involved in the great UK sell-out?.
There must be a name for people like him.
Any suggestions?, other than Chancellor of Oxford!
Whatever may be said for Chris Patten, he was no friend of the communist Chinese, and he made his position on full British passports for the Hong Kong Chinese – he was in favour – very clear. Some credit where it is due, I think.
Michael,
I am not at all sure that his insistence over British passports, was anything other than a patronising gesture. Particularly as the HK Chinese really had very little right to expect British passports or citizenship.
Any which way that you look at it, it was a sell-out of the HK Chinese. I know there was not too much room for manoevre, but he did not do a very good job there.
Seems to be the man’s speciality. Reviled in UK, gets sent to HK, slinks out of HK into a sincure at the EU. – Nice work if you can get it!.
What I said – I’m quoting as I love the FT’s wry juxtaposition.
A good turn out was expected for demonstrations today in Hong Kong against the government’s approach to “security”. The FT has a suitably wry summary of the issues:
“”The new law is there to please China, tackle groups targeted by Beijing, such as the Falun Gong, and to deter opposition in Hong Kong.” Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline that advocates truth, compassion and tolerance and is banned in China.”
And, as it turned out, turnover was 250,000:
“Dressed in black to represent the demise of human rights, waving banners and holding umbrellas to shield them from the summer sun, more than 250,000 people came out onto Hong Kong’s streets on Tuesday to protest against an anti-subversion law planned for the territory.
Official observers said it was the biggest crowd to demonstrate here since the pro-democracy march on June 4 1989 when one million people participated. Organisers said they believed the attendance was closer to 400,000, despite the 32 degree Celsius temperature.
The high turnout can be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the administration of Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s unpopular leader, who since he assumed control in 1997 has overseen a financial downturn, record unemployment, the Sars epidemic and growing dissatisfaction with his government’s accountability to the general population.“
e young – Chris Patten is a patronising, self-aggrandising, self-regarding lump of lard (how else did he get to the pinnacle of the EU slime summit, and holding?) who is interested in eating jobs. Hong Kong – great food! Brussels – great food! Chancellor of Oxford University – great food at those pompous formal dinners! Food. Greed. Who cares what you have to do to get it and your place at the top table twiddling wine glasses around while your face grows ever more roseate on taxpayers’ hard-earned money? Chris Patten and his fellow travellers in the EU need to disappear to the sound of a brisk flush.
Yesterday, the Taiwanese media reproted the totals as being well over 500,000 marchers; they also mentioned that a series of roadblocks on side streets kept many thousands of others from being able to join in the 3-mile-long trail of marchers.
Unsurprisingly, the pro-Beijing Chinese media in Hong Kong was silent on the protest.