bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Jimmy Cheung

HK's former envoy to Brussels says Beijing's statements worry some leaders

The European Parliament is worried about the erosion of 'two systems' in Hong Kong in the wake of the disputes over democracy, according to the city's recently retired envoy to Brussels.

Chris Jackson, also Hong Kong's representative in Washington during the handover period, said Democratic Party lawmaker Martin Lee Chu-ming had the duty to give US politicians a balanced picture on the complexity of moving towards democracy under the Basic Law.

Mr Jackson retired last week after 28 years in the civil service. He has spent the past eight years as Hong Kong's de facto ambassador to Washington and Brussels.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post from his home near Bristol in England, Mr Jackson said politicians in Europe were worried about the recent statements from the mainland on Hong Kong's democracy.

'To be frank, the current political discussion in Hong Kong is a concern to some people in Europe, not the business community, but the European Parliament, and to some parliamentarians in other countries. They are worried about Hong Kong,' he said.

Asked if the European parliamentarians were concerned about the 'one country, two systems' principle being eroded, he said: 'That's what they are worried about. But we have to convince them this is not the case. But they do worry about Beijing apparently trying to influence Hong Kong.'

But he stressed the level of concern was still low. 'They are still working out what's happening.'

Mr Jackson believed that European countries would have more 'tolerance and sympathy' than the Americans regarding Hong Kong's way of moving towards universal suffrage.

'Europeans have more complex political systems. I think in a way it's easier for them to understand. The Americans look at it in more black and white terms. They've got their model and they think it's the best in the world. If people don't follow, they find it difficult to understand,' he said.

Mr Jackson said he had explained the Hong Kong situation to the politicians, including John Cushnahan, the writer of the European Union report on Hong Kong last year, before retiring last Monday.

'My line to them is that Hong Kong people are pragmatic. There are some noises but in the end they always go for a solution. Chinese leaders are also incredibly pragmatic and they focus on results like economic prosperity and stability.

'Okay, there is going to be a period of debate, some pushing and shouting. But have faith, we will produce a unique solution,' he said.

Having worked in Washington for five years, Mr Jackson conceded that the Americans were not easy to convince.

'What we have to be careful of is America misreading what's happening in Hong Kong and in Beijing. There is a danger that Congress may see this in too simple terms. It's important that they are given an understanding, or they take time to look at the complex process we are going through.

'I think Martin [Lee] is taking a huge responsibility upon himself. It is important that he does give a balanced account of what is happening and does emphasise the overall well-being of Hong Kong.

'I may be a bit naive but I honestly believe that there are many senators who are genuinely interested in Hong Kong. There may be some other motives as well. It's important the legislature in America does look at Hong Kong in its own right, for Hong Kong's sake, not for some broader agenda,' he said.



Europe is troubled by erosion of two systems