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| It’s a bit of a leap from the protesters’ Five Demands to assuming that what they’re most worried about is ost ‘47. Maybe. |
Mike Rowe reminds us that 2047 is not an “end by” date for 1C2S, as many think or have thought. There’s nothing in the China Constitution that says it has to end then. Indeed I recall that around 1990 China said Hong Kong would retain its social, capitalist and legal systems “at least” until 2047.
Od course, the problem is that China needs to feel comfortable that things are going well, and right now things are going the exact opposite of well.Yesterday the vandals trashed China’s Xinhua Office building in Wanchai. Bad move. China state media is already calling for a “tough line”. And we know what that can mean in Beijing’s view…
My comment on Rowse online:
1C2S for “…*at least* 50 years after reunification.” That’s key. I think many/most people, including me, have thought that 2047 is an “end by” date, so it’s useful for Rowse to remind us that it’s not. And even if we don’t know who will be in charge in China in 2047, a statement on post-47 continuation of SAR status would certainly be welcome. I believe there are things about Hong Kong that Beijing likes and would rather keep as is.
That said, the demonstrations mean far LESS likely than more, that such a clarification could ever occur. Trashing the Xinhua offices! … What are they thinking?!
Meantime, given recent Beijing statements on HK, it’s clear that the “Beijing interference” protesters fear is actually being brought on by their very actions. The only Freedoms that are being squashed are being squashed by the protesters themselves (trashing “blue ribbon” shops for example.). Bitter irony.Another sane comment:
I think that prior to 2047 a lot of work needs to be done to prove that 1C2S can be beneficial to China and for such to happen compromises must be achieved to make sure Hong Kong and Macau do not pose a challenge to the rule in Beijing. Current unrest in Hong Kong and wide spread anti-China sentiment can only convince the Beijing government to tighten the control which would erode the power of self governance of the city. This process is already in place since politicians fail to see that only a win-win formula can lead Hong Kong to a better future.
