Letters | Still too early to talk to Beijing about Hong Kong after 2047
- The shape of arrangements for Hong Kong after 2047 is likely to depend on the success of “one country, two systems” in the next 20-odd years. If this arrangement is judged not to be working as originally intended, all bets are off
The anxieties reflected in Mr Harilela’s remarks are understandable, but, if past is prologue, his suggestion of setting up “a panel comprising mainland Chinese and Hong Kong officials, representatives of political parties and various sectors of Hong Kong society” to discuss arrangements after 2047 is unlikely to find favour with Beijing.
The first reason is that a dialogue now is likely to be considered premature and untimely, given repeated statements by Beijing officials that Hong Kong’s top priority now must be to stop the “black violence” and restore order.
Secondly, the shape of the arrangements for Hong Kong after 2047 is likely to depend on the successful implementation of “one country, two systems” in the next 20-odd years. If this arrangement is judged not to be working as originally intended – contributing to the national unity and territorial integrity of China and guaranteeing the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong – then all bets are off.
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