Is Hong Kong ‘just another Chinese city’? Its clean public service still sets it apart
- The largely corruption-free delivery of everyday government services took decades to achieve and helped to make Hong Kong into an international city
- Its checks and balances could be a model for others on the mainland to follow
For months the debate about whether Hong Kong has become – or will soon become – “just another Chinese city” has been heated and evenly poised.
Those making the case against highlight President Xi Jinping’s promise to preserve Hong Kong’s common law system in the long run. They also cite the city’s continued access to a free flow of capital and information.
These elements, they say, distinguish Hong Kong from cities in mainland China and are instrumental in preserving Hong Kong’s status as a financial centre.
But two Hong Kong assets that are mentioned less often are its relatively clean public sector and a citywide culture that makes it more difficult for corruption to take hold.
These are the results of persistent effort since the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) 50 years ago.