Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3110234/time-hong-kong-consider-what-kind-relationship-it-wants-beijing
Comment/ Letters

Time for Hong Kong to consider what kind of relationship it wants with Beijing

  • Hongkongers must be pragmatic and realise the central government will not tolerate any aggressive actions or advocating for Hong Kong independence. It is time to discuss with Beijing what the next 27 years to 2047 will look like
Workers place a national emblem outside the Metropark Hotel in Causeway, as the four-star property became the new temporary headquarters of the Office for Safeguarding National Security, on July 8. Photo: Robert Ng

After Beijing’s decision to disqualify four opposition Legislative Council members, the majority of lawmakers from the pro-democracy camp decided to resign collectively. It is not hard to see why plenty of Hong Kong citizens feel this is the end of “one country, two systems” (“The dawn of ‘one country, one system’ for Hong Kong”, November 13); that Hong Kong, the political compromise made between Deng Xiaoping and Margaret Thatcher, has eventually degenerated into a typical mainland Chinese city instead of maintaining its unique role as a special administrative region.

According to the provisions of the Sino-British Joint Declaration between the United Kingdom and China, Hong Kong is entitled to maintain its capitalist system and keep its way of life unchanged for 50 years after the handover. It indicates Beijing acknowledged then that no significant constitutional change related to the Basic Law, or intervention in Hong Kong affairs, should be made during this time.

However, time flies. Even though we are only halfway through that duration of time, many substantial incidents have taken place, and now is an appropriate time to review our city’s unconventional political system. I do not think the design of “one country, two systems” has any major problems; instead, the failure comes from the misplaced expectations of all stakeholders in Hong Kong, including the government, all political parties and the public. The pressing need now is to rebuild trust between Beijing and the people of Hong Kong.

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Finding ways to resolve tension and mutual distrust is an urgent task which both the people of Hong Kong and the central government should focus on. This directly affects the sustainability of one country, two systems. Considering the conflicts of recent years, we can see from Beijing’s reactions that the central government intends to limit the degree of autonomy regarding “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong”.

From the perspective of Hongkongers, we should consider what kind of relationship we aim to maintain with Beijing. After what we experienced last year, we should be more pragmatic and realistic in understanding that Beijing will not tolerate any aggressive actions or advocating of Hong Kong independence. Perhaps it is time for Hong Kong people to communicate or even negotiate with the central government regarding the rest of the period covered by the one country, two systems principle.

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Politics is the art of compromise. There needs to be give and take to reach consensus, and we must accept that no one gets everything they want at the negotiating table. Maintaining Hong Kong’s prosperity should be our priority, and we should work with the central government to make that happen.

Louis Yim, Shau Kei Wan