One country, two systems: Hong Kong should now have universal suffrage, what with national security law safeguarded

At last, the national security law is upon Hong Kong. This will undoubtedly send shock waves across the city and many will understandably worry about whether “one country, two systems” is over. To allay their concerns, Beijing should introduce genuine universal suffrage in Hong Kong.

With a clear understanding that Hong Kong will not be able to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law in the foreseeable future, Beijing’s patience has finally worn out and it has chosen to intervene. By invoking Article 18, Beijing can enact a tailor-made security law for Hong Kong at the national level and apply it locally by including it in Annex III of the Basic Law.

From Beijing’s perspective, Hong Kong has failed to uphold its constitutional duty to play a role in protecting China’s national security for 23 years since the handover. With a new cold war between China and the United States on the horizon, Beijing has decided it must intervene to prevent unchecked foreign interference in Hong Kong.

However, while Beijing’s action is entirely within the bounds of the Basic Law, China’s decision to circumvent the Legislative Council has ignited justifiable concerns that Hong Kong’s autonomy is being completely eroded. Given the strong opposition to Article 23 when Hong Kong tried to enact it back in 2003, and the increasing anti-Beijing sentiment since the mass protests over the extradition bill last year, it is no wonder that many people are deeply unsettled by the news. The immense opposition provoked by this development threatens to unsettle the quiet mood in Hong Kong since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regardless of how the national security law is enacted, Hong Kong will have fulfilled a paramount constitutional responsibility. Therefore, Beijing should uphold its end of the bargain and introduce universal suffrage for the elections of the chief executive and the Legislative Council, which is stipulated as the “ultimate aim” in Articles 45 and 68 respectively. By showing its commitment to the Basic Law, Beijing would significantly assuage grave fears among many Hong Kong residents that “one country, two systems” has been largely reduced to an empty slogan.

Until now, particularly with Beijing’s commitment to the strategic development of the Greater Bay Area, it has been clear that China wholeheartedly wants Hong Kong to succeed under “one country, two systems”. To make it work, Beijing can’t just resort to the stick. They must offer carrots, too.

Melvin Kan, Tai Hang

City government mustn’t forget who it serves  

The future of Hong Kong is hanging by a thread. Since tensions between the US and China are rising as we speak, it is foreseeable that another storm of conflict will gather in Hong Kong, as the city is the bridge between East and West.

In a worst-case scenario, the new normal for Hong Kong would be a long-term continuation of the current social situation. If anything it would be worse, as the first anniversaries of the July 21 and August 31 incidents are on the horizon. Bound for chaos, the Hong Kong government needs to take advantage of its position by taking control of the controllable variables.

To soften the blow, it’s about time the government met the demands of the people, whether for dual universal suffrage, meaning for both the Legco and the chief executive elections, or for the release of the full MTR surveillance footage of the August 31 incident in Prince Edward MTR station.

The mental health of the general public has worsened, as many of us have been cooped up in our flats for months, what with the protests and then the coronavirus outbreak. I believe that the government has overlooked the mental health of the general public, especially the younger generation. On top of efforts to return to normalcy, many people are struggling with their own tragedies and demons – it might be depression, social anxiety or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Our tendency to look away from the subject of mental health does not help.

Those in power have forgotten that they serve the public and that they affect the younger generation deeply with every decision they make. They appear to be puppets on strings, reacting to outside pressures in order to please those really in control. They need to take their own stand and do what is morally right, by standing by what they truly believe in.

It’s about time that those in power finally responded to the demands of those they vowed to serve.

Matthew Fung, Quarry Bay