Hong Kong: model or nightmare?

[dArKeR]

By Sushil Seth

Thursday, Feb 26, 2004,Page 8

Beijing is wielding the big stick against Hong Kong. This must worry Taiwan, if it were to contemplate union with China. Hong Kong, after all, is supposed to be the model for an autonomous Taiwan. Beijing is now pointedly telling Hong Kong that it should learn to live within the parameters laid down by China, or else.

Worried by the democrats' gains in the district council elections last November, Beijing is determined not to let it get repeated in the September legislative polls. A senior Chinese official has warned Hong Kong democrats to toe the line or face the consequences. He reportedly said, "I have a knife. Normally, I would not use it. Now it is the democrats who force me to use it."

When asked by the assembled journalists in the territory to amplify the word "knife," he added, "Please note that the Basic Law has provided for the dissolution of the legislature." And to make clear that Beijing was not simply bluffing, he said that they replaced the British-sponsored legislature under then-governor Chris Patten after China took over the territory in mid-1997, as they had warned.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/02/26/2003100208

[DustMolecule]

1. ehm, I haven't been following this too much since the handover

but, wasn't the 'deal' supposed to be that China was gonna leave HK alone for 50 years after the handover? One country - two systems, something like that? China has a looooong history, and recognizing itself as such, has historically (I thought) been pretty patient and honored it's promises. What am I missing here?

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.