THE MORE THINGS change, they say, the more they stay the same. That saying popped into my mind recently following news that two representatives of the Dalai Lama had been allowed to make a rare visit to Tibet, triggering speculation that Beijing may be softening its position on reopening a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
What struck me was that Tibet specialists and China analysts were seriously discussing the possibility of a deal whereby Beijing would allow Tibet to adopt the Hong Kong model of 'one country, two systems', with Tibet exercising 'a high degree of autonomy'.
What was interesting was that 20 years ago, when China and Britain signed the Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong, the terms reached sounded incredibly like the terms that the Beijing government had offered Tibet in the early 1950s.
Indeed, certain people, including myself, pointed out that since the Tibet agreement signed on May 23, 1951, did not work and, in fact, resulted in the 1959 uprising, the one on Hong Kong might not work either.
It is ironic, therefore, that 20 years later the reverse is being suggested. China is being asked to allow Tibet to enjoy the same terms as Hong Kong, which Beijing had apparently copied from its original agreement with Tibet.
Of course, the Tibet and Hong Kong terms were not identical, but there were many similar points. Tibet, like Hong Kong, was told that the existing political system would remain unchanged.
