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Letters | Hong Kong is a part of China and can solve its own problems: third parties should keep away

  • There is no need for sensational reporting or for interjections from foreign politicians
  • We do not need the current discontent and violence to be encouraged by third parties who do not accept China’s system of government.

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Flag pins ready for distribution during a ceremony to mark the 22nd anniversary of the return of Hong Kong’s sovereignty to mainland China, in Wan Chai on July 1. Photo: Nora Tam
The images portrayed in the worldwide press on the Hong Kong government’s reaction to the demonstrations – some of which were wilfully violent – promote impressions which are misleading and unbalanced.
The press has fallen into the trap of sensational reporting to justify and even encourage the demonstrations by the younger members of Hong Kong’s community. The demonstrators are allegedly dissatisfied with the level of democratisation, a perceived excessive interference by Beijing in Hong Kong affairs, and the government’s failure to deal with other issues, which primarily relate to the high cost of living. But the last item is itself a sign of Hong Kong’s success.
Undoubtedly, more land should be released by the government to provide more lower-cost housing. Medical services and education are also mentioned as being inadequate. But these latter grievances can be dismissed, as what Hong Kong offers is already among the best in the world.
Interjections by Chris Patten and Jeremy Hunt are inappropriate, and the demonstrators have gone far beyond the law – violent weapons and the desecration of the Legislative Council itself are hardly consistent with the rule of law, the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.

The fact is that, out of the 70 members of the Legislative Council, 35 are elected by the public, and a further five are nominated by district councillors and elected by territory-wide electorates. In 2016, voting for these five members came out 58 per cent in favour of democracy and 42 per cent pro-Beijing. The number of directly elected members has increased progressively from 20 out of 60 in 1998 to the current 35 out of 70 (or 40 out of 70 depending on how one accounts for the five “super seat” district councillors). Furthermore, Hong Kong is to progressively increase this number up to 2047, in accordance with the requirements of the Basic Law.
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