Between Leung Chun-ying and Carrie Lam, it’s clear who is more keen to protect ‘two systems’ for Hong Kong
Alice Wu says ‘one country, two systems’ was once meant to help draw Taiwan into the one-China fold, but with Beijing now taking a more aggressive stance towards both, Carrie Lam’s attempt to calm independence fears are a welcome change
Not too long ago, “one country, two systems” was the hope for the reunification of China. Hong Kong was to be the leading example. It could not fail – its success was the ultimate selling point for reunification to the people of Taiwan.
There were great expectations for the system to work in Hong Kong, and the city’s economic success, promised high degree of autonomy and democratic development were the beacons of hope meant to allay the fears of those across the Taiwan Strait.
There were glitches in implementing ‘one country, two systems’ in Hong Kong, but it worked nevertheless
It showed its sovereign power by extending its “support”, especially when Hong Kong’s economy was hit by external forces and the housing bubble burst, sending owners into negative equity. That, too, was something meant for the world to see – that the motherland stood ready to help.
Selling the Taiwanese people an enhanced version of “one country, two systems” – one country, two systems 2.0 – was still paramount.
With time, that focus has shifted to fostering greater economic integration. Naturally, circumstances evolve, and relationships are organic. The “one country” has made phenomenal economic achievements, having opened up to the world. The Hong Kong “system” has faced strong headwinds from a growing wealth disparity and deep-rooted socio-economic problems.
Somewhere during the past two decades, Hong Kong stopped playing the role of bridging the divide across the Taiwan Strait.
‘One country, two systems’ could be scrapped if it is used to confront Beijing
