My Take | What Hong Kong really lacks is an effective leader
Under ‘one country, two systems’, we are condemned to having the mediocre and clueless ruling the unruly and unreasonable.
The more you fight your enemies, the more you become like them.
Radical localists who advocate independence have nothing but trouble and ruin to offer Hong Kong. But those on the mainland who think it’s time to rewrite the Basic Law are no less dangerous.
The latest salvo comes from Yu Hongjun, a former Chinese diplomat and political adviser to the central government.
He said at a Beijing forum there should be cross-border exchange of officials, taxes should be paid by the city to the central government and Hong Kong people should be able to join the People’s Liberation Army.
That’s not just amending the Basic Law, but undermining it. Why not scrap the mini-constitution and throw “one country, two systems” out the window altogether? Such talk from the mainland may be the opposite of those advocating independence. But both sides are equally extreme, unrealistic and destructive. It’s a good thing Yu was only speaking in his personal capacity. The official position of Beijing is that “one country, two systems” is working and must be upheld. Hallelujah! We should really start to worry when the central government stops adopting that party line. That day, though, may not be far off as Hong Kong becomes more politically troublesome and economically less significant.