Hong Kong

China's Ire: Protesters in Hong Kong incur the Communist Party's Wrath, The Economist, 7/22/19; Why are there Protests in Hong Kong? All the Context You Need, BBC 7/25/2019



















Reading about the protests in Hong Kong this week was a bit startling. Not surprising,
however, given the Chinse philosophy of filial piety which emphasizes respect of authority, was the government’s quick response and reprimand. According to reports in The Economist on Monday, a statement on the government’s website states that the demonstrators have “seriously challenged the central government’s authority” and “insulted the country and its people.” 

 Having had a fairly in-depth conversation with a tour guide when I was in Hong Kong at the start of the year, I had been somewhat privy to the sentiment of “Hong Kongers” and their relationship with mainland China before reading the article. The tour guide had explained that most “Hong Kongers” were not happy about the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997. Those who could afford to left Hong Kong. At the same time, he said that his living circumstances were better than he expected... that the transition was smooth and life hadn’t changed for the most part, but that he still wasn’t sure of the future and didn’t fully trust the Beijing government.
As explained in the BBC's report on Hong Kong’s historical background, the territory enjoys a “high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs” because of the “one country, two systems” policy that was set in place for fifty years (set to expire in 2047). Consequently, “Hong Kong has its own legal system and borders, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected.” 
The BBC also detailed some of the major problems leading to the recent protests in Hong Kong. To begin with, “Rights groups are accusing China of meddling in Hong Kong.”  They claim that freedoms are on the decline and censorship is on the rise. Moreover, surveys from the University of Hong Kong convey that the majority of the people identify as “Hong Kongers” rather than “Chinese,” and 71% say they are not proud to be Chinse citizens. This is especially true among the young, and the Beijing government is concerned about young activists who are calling for Hong Kong’s independence from China. 
The political climate in Hong Kong has led to the recent protests over the controversial extradition bill.  Over forty people were injured which reflects Hong Kong’s instability at the current time. If passed, critics fear the likely outcome that China will gain increased over Hong Kong.

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