1 Country 2 systems in HK: A Decadal Reflection
-
Upload
wai-kwok-benson-wong -
Category
News & Politics
-
view
55 -
download
0
Transcript of 1 Country 2 systems in HK: A Decadal Reflection
Benson Wai-kwok Wong
Postdoctoral Fellow
Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
“One Country, Two Systems”: A Decadal Reflection from a Local Perspective
2
Outline
1. Introduction
2. China VS Hong Kong
3. Nature of the PRC rule in Hong Kong
4. Tung Chee-hwa administration
5. Donald Tsang administration
6. Conclusion
3
Introduction
The optimistic view on “1 Country, 2 Systems” (1C2S) from pro-establishment sector
View this political experiment from a local, not Beijing, perspective
Presence of inconsistencies and misunderstanding between Beijing and HK
4
China/HK, which is better?
Tung CH: HK is better, motherland will be better, and vice versa. Is it valid? Historical perspective: HK’s takeoff VS China’s
chaos Anti-communist syndrome:
PRC’s authoritarian rule Political campaigns since 1949, notably the Cultural
Revolution (1966-76) The 1967 Riot in HK Tiananmen Square Protests (1989)
Economic prosperity diverted political worries of some HKers?
5
Nature of PRC rule in HK [i]
1. Covert influence through Tung’s subservience and conformity
2. The discourse of an “economic” city: depoliticizing HK
Utilizing HK’s economic strength to contribute to the motherland (1980s)
Devaluing economic value after the Asian Financial Crisis + increasing economic might of PRC = weakening its political role (after 1997)
3. Legitimatizing the hegemony by the use of political slogans: prosperity, stability and harmony
6
Nature of PRC rule in HK [ii]
4. Understanding of HK is based on misunderstanding and misperception: result of burying the past
5. Guoqing education: Tse: National integration > self-governance Nationalism and patriotism: cultural heritage,
historical root, economic growth and science and technology advances (yet cover up the political practices and social problems)
Instrumental nationalism/patriotism?
7
Tung administration [i]
1. Lacked the administrative experiences and leadership capacities
Personal diligence =/= political wisdom
2. Lacked a definite and an efficient proposal to take the deep-rooting economic problems
Housing problems (85,000 estate policy) Need the support of real estate developers Disarticulation between Tung and civil servants
in the policy-making arena
8
Tung administration [ii]
3. Lacked a sustainable and detailed schedule to fulfill his ambition
CyberPort, flower plantation, Chinese medicine, biochemistry, tourism in North Lantau, fashions, entertainment
4. Political appointment of pro-Beijing elites into the advisory/consultative committees (serve as “public” opinion)
5. “Old and Stupid” Tung: Old: colonial political vision of the 1960s and 70s Stupidity: political naivety (Jiang Jiemin’s unconditional
support)
9
Tung administration [iii]
6. Failed to serve as a bridge between HKers and the central authorities
Reinterpreting the Basic Law Enacting Art. 23 of the Basic Law Beijing authorities discrete when, how, how far
democratization could be taken, and interpret the subsequent policies according to their political interests
7. Jiang JM: Tung = 1C2S?8. 2003: A year of significance
SARS Enacting Art, 23 of the Basic Law July 1 rally: Both Tung and Central authorities shocked
10
Tsang administration [i]
1. Stepping down of Jiang and rise of Hu Tung’s departure
2. Tsang: a pragmatic choice His administrative experience, popularity, “strong
governance”
3. PRC: Saved HK economically: CEPA, Individual Free Visit, …
4. A “competitive” CE election: Tsang’s promise to unfold democratization was hampered by Wu Bangguo,
confirming the Beijing orchestration in the backstage for local political developments
11
Tsang administration [ii]
5. Authorities ignore the drastic changes of HK’s politics and society
Vibrancy of civil society The effectiveness of Internet Spontaneous social movements E.g., The demolition of Star Ferry &
Queen Pier
12
Tsang administration [iii]
6. Revitalization of 1C2S under Tsang? Basic misunderstanding of 1C2S persists HK people ruling HK
What kind of HKers? How to rule HK?
High autonomy is tarnished by sovereignty
13
Conclusion [i]
1. Does the PRC genuinely believe “1C2S”?
2S are as a means to achieve 1C? Politically, the socialist system overrides
the capitalist system? “over”-interpretation of the Basic Law
according to the designed political purposes: dominant & manipulative?
14
Conclusion [ii]
2. The ultimate outcome of 1C2S Politically, the capitalist system would transfer
into the socialist system (soft authoritarianism?) Economically, the increasing dependency on
China constitutes an obstacle to HK’s democratization?
A tug-of-war between authoritarian regime and civil society
In case of being violated the core values (human rights, freedom and liberties), HKers would define them by taking the tangible and consistent actions unintentionally drive local democratization
15
End of Presentation
Questions, comments and suggestions welcome!