Advertisement
City Beat | As Huawei row rumbles on, protecting Hong Kong’s status as a world city must be high on Carrie Lam’s agenda
- The city’s leader is in Beijing this week for a duty visit, and the way Hong Kong is perceived overseas is sure to be discussed
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Hong Kong claims to be Asia’s world city, but the proud tag sometimes comes with a political burden that can be tough to bear.
People usually see Hong Kong as a melting pot of East and West, thanks to the harmonious blend of different values, cultures and lifestyles. But, the recent diplomatic wrangling between China, the United States, and Canada, over Chinese telecoms giant Huawei reflected how the city’s position can be awkward at times.
With Beijing and Washington in the middle of a 90-day truce to negotiate an end to their trade war, last week’s arrest in Vancouver of Huawei’s chief financial officer, Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, could not be more political. The elder daughter of Huawei’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, was accused of violating US sanctions against Iran.
Advertisement
She was granted bail last Wednesday, but it was just the beginning of another diplomatic conflict behind the trade war, as the US is trying to extradite her to New York, while Beijing has promptly detained two China-based Canadians involved in North Korea-related affairs.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Meng’s shock arrest catapulted Hong Kong into the international spotlight because of her status as a local citizen here.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x