Sierens China: From Hong Kong to learn

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For the past 20 years, Hong Kong is back in Chinese. Time for Beijing to recognize that “One country, two systems” has brought about a very independent Generation of Hongkongern, says DW columnist Frank Sieren.

“The horses will continue to race, the dancers continue to turn”, China’s great Reformer Deng Xiaoping, the British promised, before they gave it back to Hong Kong.

Despite these reassuring words trembled Hong Kong in the first half of 1997, before the tension before the 1. July, the British crown colony was again Chinese. Two worlds that had been 155 years separate, almost incompatible ways, came together again.

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese who had fled under the rule of the Communists to Hong Kong, although not gone into exile, were concerned, however, a second passport. At that time, the canadian Vancouver was nicknamed Hongcouver.

The one that remained, fluctuated between optimism and panic. Some, such as the writer Agnes Lam, saw the horrors of the Tiananmen square massacre on the horizon of Hong Kong, dawn, “the wet smell of blood and the redness of the fire,” as she wrote in June 1997, in one of her poems. Of course that was exaggerated. Economically, Hong Kong will continue to prosper unaffected by the new masters. It was better, but not worse. Politically, however, it is more difficult.

That did not materialize, or the contagion of Hong Kong, as most Western observers feared, was mainly due to the formula of “One country, two systems”, also by Deng Xiaoping, coined solution.

DW-columnist Frank Sieren

Thus, he guaranteed the metropolis, that they may go another 50 years, a capitalist exceptionalism, with its own currency, its own tax system and an independent judiciary.

And the Beijing leadership wanted to learn from Hong Kong how to build an international networked financial center. Much of what makes Hong Kong, one finds already in Shenzhen or Shanghai. And yet, it has to obtain no Chinese city was able to Hong Kong. The former colony is still one of the most important hubs of the global economy – for example – still the only stock exchange that operates internationally at eye level.

Among the concessions of the “One country, two systems” but also that of the press and freedom of Assembly in Hong Kong, should respect the stay. Until today, every year, meet at the 4. In June, tens of thousands in urban Victoria Park to commemorate the memory of candles for the victims of Tiananmen, within the limits of mainland China, is absolutely unthinkable. No one is stopping you.

On 1. July the handover of Hong Kong marks the anniversary of the 20. Time. And it shows that Beijing interprets the formula of “One country, two systems” is different than many in Hong Kong. Beijing thinks Hong Kong is part of China, and that’s why some of the rules of the game in China. Many Hong Kong interpret Deng’s formula is different: The System must not interfere in the other.

The delivery of the contract in this question is, unfortunately, room for interpretation.

Particularly within the last five years head of government Leung Chun-ying, the influence of the mainland had become tolerable, especially young urbanites. Many feel by a Beijing-loyal Elite at a disadvantage, the power of the media and the real estate market is Subject to. From their ranks under the name Occupy Central or the “umbrella Revolution” is well-known protest movement path, which is kept busy in 2014, with the requirement for a direct right to vote 79 days major roads in Hong Kong’s financial and government district broke.

The government sat on the issue, there was no dialogue, concessions were not made. The fronts have since hardened than ever. However, the Hong Kong more Business as usual makes up the majority. As ever.

If Xi Jinping this weekend, attended the anniversary celebrations in Hong Kong are protesting the boys again. Not least because China’s President will swear in on his first official visit in Hong Kong, Carrie Lam as the new head of government of the special administrative zone.

A hand-picked panel of elected politician is particularly true in the case of young Hongkongern, as a faithful steward to Beijing’s interests. And symbolically, on the anniversary travelled swearing-in ceremony is seen by the Opposition as a provocation.

It is clear now: A directly elected leadership is in the principle of “One country, two systems” in the future not provided, reads the message, the Xi for the pro-democracy citizens of Hong Kong in the Luggage. Even the British, one of the oldest democracies in the world, had, however, never allow choose a second of the sense, in Hong Kong.

The Communist party wants to learn from Hong Kong how the market economy works, but she obviously has no interest in using Hong Kong as a Petri dish for democracy-experiments. The Seven-million-metropolis, with its largely peaceful-active youth would be an ideal test field. Because it is young people who are not quite satisfied are developed, such as Hong Kong. Today, the questions that the youth in mainland China, sooner or later, and in the large cities in China already. Ask for an identity beyond the Status, career, consumerism, and communism.

In Hong Kong, the government could learn so very much for China, it would go to the youth movement, and at least with those speeches, which are for a different Hong Kong within China.

Because of the national autonomy of Hong Kong is not for Beijing, of course, non-negotiable, like the independence of Bavaria for Berlin is negotiable.

Even that, however, does Beijing not. And also the visit of President Xi will unfortunately change nothing.

Our columnist Frank Sieren has lived for more than 20 years in Beijing.