'One country, two systems' under fire

Asia Times ^ | 07.17.03 | Antoaneta Bezlova

[Enemy Of The State]

'One country, two systems' under fire
By Antoaneta Bezlova

BEIJING - Beijing is trying to ease tensions in Hong Kong, where mass protests against a national-security bill have turned into big rallies for democratic change - and now threaten to derail China's long-term goal of reunification with Taiwan.

This threat stems from the fact that the discontent in Hong Kong, six years after its handover to China, is exposing the faults of the "one country, two systems" formula of the territory's autonomous rule.

The Hong Kong experiment with "one country, two systems" is being closely watched in Taiwan, the island China claims as its own territory and has vowed to embrace back with promises for similar "hands off" autonomy.

The wariness in Beijing is such that the political ferment in the former British colony, which has been going on for weeks, has been kept under the wraps by the state-run Chinese media.

However, Beijing leaders have begun subtly to distance themselves from the unpopular Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa, in the meantime assuring Hong Kong people that public opinion in the territory is a subject of intense study by the mainland. Already, teams of political cadres, academics and intelligence agents have been sent to take the pulse of this bilingual and diverse city of 6.8 million people.

A high-ranking Chinese official, speaking in the wake of a third mass street protest in Hong Kong on the weekend, said on Monday that the demonstrations had to be taken seriously.

Long Yongtu, a former top trade negotiator, indicated that Beijing leaders had taken notice of the powerful display of social discontent in the territory. "Hong Kong is a place with a lot of freedom of speech, and protests [are] one of the ways for Hong Kong people to express their opinions and thoughts. Any method of expression, so long as allowed under the law, deserves to be taken seriously," Long told reporters in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, mainland propaganda has stepped up the rhetoric to present the brewing political ferment in Hong Kong as a crisis of an administration rather than calls for democratic change.

Also this week, the Hong Kong edition of the Beijing-sanctioned China Daily attacked the city's pro-democracy politicians, saying the July 1 street protest that gathered half a million Hong Kong people does not indicate public support for political reforms.

Democratic politicians are using the march and public discontent with the administration of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to "subvert" the city's political system, charged a signed editorial in the paper. "Hong Kong people have had a lot of grievances against the government, but it does not mean they like the 'democrats'," said the commentary in the English-language newspaper.

Another mass demonstration on the weekend - the third in only a month - has added more pressure on Tung, the Beijing-picked chief executive, to step down.

The weekend protests in Hong Kong came in the wake of a rally by half a million people on July 1, the sixth anniversary of the former British colony's return to Chinese rule, against a proposed bill that critics say would bring communist-style suppression of dissent to the territory.

A second protest was held on July 9 with people calling on Tung to step down and "return power to the people".

The protests have vented people's frustrations and anxieties about everything that has gone wrong since the 1997 handover to Chinese rule.

Since Tung became chief executive in 1997, the city has suffered two recessions that have seen property prices fall by 60 percent. Unemployment is running at 8.3 percent - something unheard of in this once-vibrant financial hub.

Tung's administration has been blamed also for mishandling the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in March. For fear of upsetting Beijing, Hong Kong leaders failed to criticize China's cover-up of the epidemic - their initial response to the health crisis was an inept playing-down of the outbreak's seriousness.

But most of all, Tung has lost the respect of many among the public for failing to keep China's promise that it would not meddle in Hong Kong's affairs for 50 years, under the "one country, two systems" formula.

Tung was forced to tone down and later delay the passage of a controversial security law, called Article 23, after members of his administration joined public opposition to the bill. The proposed new anti-subversion bill has been hotly debated for fear that it could be used against political opponents. The initial draft of the new law allows Hong Kong authorities to outlaw all local groups with ties to any organizations banned on mainland China. Police would be given sweeping powers to conduct searches without warrants and journalists who published classified information would be liable for breaching the law.

The political crisis in the former British colony comes at an embarrassing time for Chinese leaders, who are preparing to greet British Prime Minister Tony Blair next week.

Beijing has made clear that at some point, Article 23 would have to be passed, as required under the mini-constitution put in place when Hong Kong reverted from British rule to Chinese sovereignty.

"Passing the anti-subversion law has nothing to do with curtailing civil liberties," argued Professor Yang Zhenshan from the People's Politics and Law University in Beijing. "It is about the relationship between the state and the society," he explained. "If a political disturbance takes place in Hong Kong, it will be against the interests of the state and therefore not in the interests of Hong Kong people.

"Freedom is one thing while law and security is another," he added. "Tung Chee-hwa will not step down because of this. Stability in Hong Kong is in the best interests of the Hong Kong people."

[Mr. K]

Looks like they'll have to come up with a new catchy phrase to replace "one country-two systems"

(Why is it all these asians countries think a fancy slogan is the answer?)

In north Korea I heard (I swear) the phrase "Two Meals a day is better than three"

[Support Free Republic]

The former President disembarks from his airplane after a trip back to Arkansas. Although the hoopla is less now that he is out of office, Clinton still occasionally finds himself greeted by military personnel. This is one such occasion.

He climbs down the stairs, carrying two huge pigs, one under each arm. He gets to the bottom, and nods his head in return to the soldier's salute. "Son, what do you think about these?" he says. "Nice pigs, SIR!" comes the reply. Clinton gets mildly miffed and lectures, "I'll have you know these aren't just pigs but the finest of Arkansas Razorbacks. Top notch. I got one for Hillary, and one for Chelsea. What do you think about that?"

"Nice trade, SIR!

Free Republic

Your donations keep us laughing at liberals

[Enemy Of The State]

Ping!

[Enemy Of The State]

"In north Korea I heard (I swear) the phrase "Two Meals a day is better than three""

lol..you've got to be kiddin me?

[The Pheonix]

like-weise, in the US, you can't get any catchier than phases like;

"compassionate conservatives"

or " rainbow coalition"

or "congagement"

[Mr. K]

nope- click here for story link

[RockyMtnMan]

Keep an eye on what China does with Hong Kong because that's their little experiment to see how other countries could be ruled by "one country, two systems".

[AmericanInTokyo]

maybe yours had a double meaning, but, did you visit north korea?

[Enemy Of The State]

Oh and we certainly cant forget this one:

"DemocRats are for the working man"

[Eric in the Ozarks]

"People's Law and Politics University," in Beijing.
Kind of what the Clintons had in mind.

[HighRoadToChina]

And yes America = Nazi China! </sarcasm>

[HighRoadToChina]

I love this!

"Passing the anti-subversion law has nothing to do with curtailing civil liberties," argued Professor Yang Zhenshan from the People's Politics and Law University in Beijing. "It is about the relationship between the state and the society," he explained. "If a political disturbance takes place in Hong Kong, it will be against the interests of the state and therefore not in the interests of Hong Kong people.

"Freedom is one thing while law and security is another," he added. "Tung Chee-hwa will not step down because of this. Stability in Hong Kong is in the best interests of the Hong Kong people."

Ah, the panacea of "stability" and "law" according to Communist China. One could also argue that "stability" and "law" are in the best interests of the Nazi people.

[HighRoadToChina]

Check this out!

[The Pheonix]

yes, I meant it as a joke

Seems to have offended your sensitivity,

Wasn't intended that way, I assure you

[The Pheonix]

I had responded to Mr.K posting where he said, "why do these Asians think that a catchy phase can solve problems?' or something like that (nowhere was China mentioned there)

There fore, what I had wrote actually, amounted to:

American= Asians

[FreepForever]

Looks like they'll have to come up with a new catchy phrase to replace "one country-two systems"

What about :One-country, Free-system"?

[FreepForever]

Thanks for the heads up!

BREAKING NEWS: Tung's government is imploding. Just an hour ago, two of Tung's secretaries resigned. Regina Ip, the Security Secreatey and Anthony Leung, the Financial Secretary.