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Letters | Why Hong Kong cannot easily follow in Macau’s footsteps
- Both cities were colonised by Western countries, but Hong Kong’s economy is more complex and internationalised than Macau’s and less reliant on the mainland
- The national security law is thus a bigger worry in Hong Kong, and vague definitions of ‘patriots’ do nothing to help
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I am writing to share my thoughts on the column, “In Hong Kong, can you be a patriot and criticise the Communist Party? Definitely” (March 20). It provided interesting insights by making comparisons with Macau, where people have been enjoying economic integration with the mainland and which leaders in Beijing see as an ideal model for the “one country, two systems” policy.
I agree that Macau is a relevant example as it has been growing rapidly over the last two decades, and the Communist Party appreciates the city’s collaboration. Nonetheless, I think comparing Macau and Hong Kong cannot shed light on “one country, two systems” because the two cities have such different backgrounds and orientations.
They were both colonised by Western capitalist countries, but the degrees of internationalisation are different: Hong Kong enjoyed a high degree of autonomy and had well-established economy but Macau was in a mess.
Macau’s economy is largely dependent on tourism from mainland China. The city’s unique advantage as a gambling hub is another engine for its economy; therefore, mainland’s economic penetration in Macau easily earns the favour of its people.
03:24
Macau marks 20 years since former the Portuguese colony’s return to China
Macau marks 20 years since former the Portuguese colony’s return to China
In contrast, the composition of Hong Kong’s economy is more complex: the finance industry attracts investments from countries around the world. The national security law worries foreign companies in Hong Kong, and could potentially threaten the security of Hongkongers’ personal data online. Hong Kong is now seen as a less free economy and this would have negative impacts on attracting foreign investment and tourists.
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