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Outside In | The West’s ‘Hong Kong narrative’ was wrong. But so is Paul Chan’s
- The financial secretary’s report, meant to showcase Hong Kong’s recovery from the protest chaos of 2019, laid bare the extensive damage wrought, blaming it in part on US interference
- But its claim of a return to peace and economic health is an overstatement; there is still much to be done
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This week, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po emerged all guns blazing in his declaration of Hong Kong’s economic recovery, and launched a full-frontal assault on the US-endorsed “black-clad violence” that brought Hong Kong to its knees in the second half of 2019.
His 68-page account of the wilful harm inflicted during those terrible six months of street violence and economic disruption was also an audit of the subversive role played by the Trump administration, of China’s resolute defence of Hong Kong, of the role of the controversial national security law in restoring calm, and the resilience that stands Hong Kong in good stead.
In short, it seemed more like a political manifesto than a “Report on Hong Kong’s Business Environment”. It aroused speculation that Chan may be preparing to contest next year’s chief executive election.
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Surely it could not be a coincidence that the report was released just ahead of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s policy address next Wednesday, which is expected to provide foundations for her own campaign for re-election?
Nor could it have been a coincidence that the Chinese foreign ministry had just released a blistering 102-paragraph “fact sheet” itemising US interference in Hong Kong, and US support for “anti-China, destabilising forces” – a “criminal record” of the United States interfering in Hong Kong affairs.
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