The Sino British Joint Declaration of 1984 envisaged the autonomy of Hong Kong till 2047 as a one country, two systems model following the 1997 Handover by Britain to China.
China fully honoured as did Britain the June 1898 Second Convention of Peking to lease for 99 years the territory of Hong Kong to Britain. Now it seems that China are to renege on the aspect of autonomy 27 years earlier with plans to impose a controversial national security law. In short this seeks to equalise the rights of those in Hong Kong with those in the mainland , seen as Draconian and further discount to people’s freedom. Of course managing / governing a nation with 1.4 billion citizens needs rules and a system in place to properly function. Keeping people in straight lines is a difficult challenge but managing wayward wavy lines even more so.
The sudden change in policy has been prompted by the Umbrella riots and the threat to Hong King’s stability. The clamp down to come is Beijing’s answer to subversion. The response from Britain is muted and with little economic leverage and much need the response is compromised. Meantime the USA take a tough stance with Trade threats at a time when China is blamed for the Covid virus outbreak.
From my 40 year intimate knowledge of China I found that there was an adoration for all things American and that China lived in fear of the capabilities of America. Meantime I sensed that Americans lived in fear of the copycat duplicitous China and both’s extreme mistaken views of each other failed to see that their good relations was indeed a plus sign for both nations and that they should come together not reign apart. President Nixon should and will be remembered for opening up China for business as he stood sipping Coca Cola at the Great Wall. As for Britain to be or not 5G is the question and despite fear of infiltration it does seem that we must embrace China or live in fear of them post Brexit. My vote would be to embrace and see how we progress together.
It is clear that the Chinese population want the western life with all its fashions and freedoms yet we must appreciate that our freedoms are perhaps not as great as we think they are. Covid 19 witnessed indeed the classic obedience of the British and the speed at which they followed their leader.
The famous tea trading Hongs such as Jardine Matheson have voted massive support for the China mainland when buying two months ago 23 acres of Shanghai for a World record land price per acre. JM are no fools and they can clearly see where a prosperous future lies and all this is heading.
We know that unless China grows its middle class the western economies will be affected. We need a growing and vibrant China as much as we need the American dream and anything else would be a nightmare. As for Britain we should speak up for Hong Kong and offer British citizenship to those who fear a future there. I don’t think many will come but the hard working and educated people would be a bonus to any nation on the earth.
It’s time for the World to stop blaming each other for trade differentials and virus infiltrations but seek the peace that only education and self prosperity canbring to the people and pursue policies that tend to poverty and the masses for neglecting the same will lead to the breakdown and failing of any nation. Good leaders will lead by inspiring their flock not by flogging the flock and good business is only good business when both sides feel satisfied. Compromise is neither victory or defeat it is an essential to find balance to the axis of the world that holds us together as we spin at 1000 miles per hour.
For some there is no profit in peace but now is the time for Trump and Xi to come together, work out their differences and make the world the better place than it can be. Chop Chop. Before it’s too late.
qbitblogger 