Why Hong Kong should remain free?

Lately, I have not written anything about  economy or politics in China, but due to the recent events being held in Hong Kong, I believe that it is important to say something about it. Since there are many aspects involved in this matter, I will limit myself to what I know about Hong Kong, what I saw while I was there, and obviously, my arguments related to the matter of why Hong Kong, in my opinion, should remain independent in most of its affairs.

I will first talk about what is Hong Kong to me, and how it is regarded by the international community in general. Second, I will explain why Hong Kong is unique, particularly in economic and political aspects. Third, I will focus on the part of the possible implications if Hong Kong is put under stricter controls by the Chinese Communist Party. Lastly, I will conclude by relating the situation given in Hong Kong to others seen in China regarding protests, (like the one held in Tibet on 2008) in the sense of Hong Kong as another potential time bomb if the CCP decides to carry on with its authoritarian objetcives.

The first time I hard about Hong Kong was when I was around ten years old. I was quite excited during my childhood about Asia and about China and Japan in particular. The only sources about China I had access to, were movies and pictures. I heard some tales about Hong Kong coming from my dad, who was there in 1979 and described the city as big, a bit dirty and very convenient in terms of prices. It was not until December 2012 when I saw Hong Kong with my own eyes. Obviously, it was everything I imagined: a big city, with many buildings, amazing views, and with a lot of people. 

I thought that Hong Kong would turn into another city like any other in China after 1997, but to my surprise, while most foreigners have serious problems in many cities in China due to lingusitic (and other) matters, Hong Kong in that sense is a paradise. Chinese of Hong Kong are also very open and kind to foreigners, something that as far as I am concerned, is not common in other cities of Mainland China. 

While I was there I could sense some of the grip kept by the CCP, because some people were reluctant towards talking about politics, others spoke to me about 'the wonderful country China has become' (???), others just asked me about my country and a few let me know that Chinese of Mainland China need a special permission for Hong Kong . Something that called my attention, and showed me a lot regarding freedom in the city, besides people having more than one child, was the Falun Gong issue there, because near the port, I saw some protesting against it, and others defending it. I also noticed that quality of life is very different in Hong Kong, for the residences in Aberdeen for example, are not precisely common in all places of Mainland China. 

In general terms, Hong Kong seemed to me as modern and relatively more open than other cities in China, a perception that is common to many people around the world. Hong Kong is also known internationally for being a tax free paradise, for this reason, several companies are either based there, or, at least they have offices. In spite of being quite expensive for normal people and tourists nowadays, many businesses and business people around the world, consider it a very suitable place to invest or to live. During my brief walks through residential areas of Hong Kong, it seemed to me that life quality there is slightly better than in other places of China.

In regard to politics in Hong Kong, it is obvious that the process is different to other places in China, and people are freer to choose their representatives. Naturally, defence and foreign policy are exclusive to the main government based in Beijing. The mere fact of having political freedom and independence on that matter, makes of Hong Kong an even more convenient and interesting place for doing business or for investment. If people are free to choose or, to have a say in who they would like to have as a representative, then they become a remarkably convenient market for many things. 

In spite of being a storng supporter of freedom and human rights, I believe that the second weakest point Hong Kong people could use for their favour, is the business (or economic) side of this. If the CCP puts stricter bans on people's freedom to choose, to decide and to have their say, then companies will be applied the same, and suffer the same fate as the Hong Kong citizens with damaging implications. 

If there is something common to all business people, is they will always seek to avoid problems and prevent losses as much as possible. Policies in Hong Kong regarding establishing a business and taxation are different to the rest of China therefore, if the CCP takes such benefits away, companies will all flee in a matter of months. 

The CCP has not realised yet that many companies are leaving China due to the poor quality of what they give compared to what they promise. Hong Kong also has a different business culture, which has made the city so convenient for production, or convenient as a hub for trade. If they take all guarantees away regarding the matters in business that have turned Hong Kong into the huge and important financial center we see today, then not only will Hong Kong citizens suffer, but everybody in China, because most of the profitable deals are signed and made in Hong Kong. 

Apart from the business and economic sides, people in Hong Kong will not be shut or crushed that easily after enjoying all benefits that their nationals in Mainland China do not have. People of Hong Kong know what democracy is, what are the implications of free elections and most importantly, what they would lose if they allow the CCP to control everything. 

People would be told that 'they were free once long ago', the fact of becoming prey of authoritanism after enjoying a certain degree of freedom, is a hard reality to accept. In general terms, nobody would be precisely keen to accept more control after having freedom. Hong Kong would also turn into another Shanghai: a place where openness and freedom are just mirrors or empty boxes, not to mention that the quality of life of Hong Kong citizens would be seriously damaged. Shanghai used to have a separate area for foreigners to live, maybe the same thing would be done in Hong Kong, and strict controls for 'not allowing ideological pollution' would be established. 

Hong Kong has a lot to lose if the CCP succeeds in imposing its objectives. In the very same stance as Tibet and Xinjiang (among others), the case of Hong Kong being striped out of its autonomy by force (like Tibet was in 1950) and put under strict control can become a third big time-bomb that might lead to China's eventual implosion if they continue crushing everybody around them in the name of Sino-centric imperialism. The CCP can pay a high price for their arrogance and intolerance towards their own people and their neighbours, because Japan has not welcomed  the latest Chinese policies, and so has Vietnam. If the CCP wants to survive for some years, they should not turn Hong Kong into another Tiananmen. 

(C) Huffintgon Post

Hong Kong Island seen from Kowloon. Picture taken by me.