Hong Kong freedoms hard won
I disagree with all points made by Alan Johnson in his letter ("Make the most of China's generosity", November 1). Why do people pick Egypt as an example when deciding to knock universal suffrage? The country's military leadership is not the elected government.
I disagree with all points made by Alan Johnson in his letter ("Make the most of China's generosity", November 1).
Why do people pick Egypt as an example when deciding to knock universal suffrage? The country's military leadership is not the elected government.
Why don't we look at countries like Canada, Australia, Norway and Finland, where people enjoy a much higher level of living standards than citizens in undemocratic nations?
By using Egypt as an example, is your correspondent inferring that China will use force in Hong Kong? I cannot see that scenario being even a remote possibility.
Tiananmen, on June 4, 1989, happened because Beijing felt threatened. This is not the case with Hong Kong. Besides, any kind of military suppression here would send China into an economic abyss.
With countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and India ready to share the export pie in Asia, manufacturers would move out of the mainland. The property bubble would burst and the fragile banking system disintegrate.
The freedoms we enjoy today are the result of the Sino-British Joint Declaration monitored by the international community.