Why Britain Didn't Democratize Hong Kong

NEW YORK, February 2, 2018 - Former Hong Kong Chief Secretary Anson Chan explains why the United Kingdom was unable to implement democracy in Hong Kong before the 1997 handover of the territory to China. (5 min., 1 sec.)

[@zsl2015]

Nonsense. UK ruled Hong Kong for nearly 150 years. Why did UK not introduce democracy over 100 years ago? Or even before 1945 or before 1949? What could China do at that time? Why did UK want to introduce democracy only when HK was about to be returned to China?

[@denisluk6217]

sz because under British rule, we Hong Kong people didn't see the need to have democracy to protect our rights,. Just that simple!

[@yuntie9122]

Denis Luk bullshit

[@leony1612]

Because under British rule, Hong Kong is viewed as a crown colony governed by an appointed governor. Before the 1970s, colonies back then do little or no right to vote.

[@catbertevil750]

biggest reason is the British greed. the British had extracted vast amount of revenue from Hong Kong! Hong Kong was the golden goose for the British. if it's a true democracy why would Hong Kong people want to send their money to the British? if it's a sham "democracy" which would have sought separating the Chinese city permanently from the mainland, it would also invite ruin for the British rule there, thus killed the golden goose. so no democracy was the more profitable way for the British until they knew they couldn't milk the cow/take the golden egg anymore!

[@0157matt]

The British were cunning.. They wanted full control of Hong Kong..do they ever sought counsel from the people of Hong Kong during their rule... .

[@himinghii1597]

Why for 150 years Britain never give Hong Kong Democracy until it became clear that it has to return to China in the 80s. They never even talked remotely about giving basic democratic rights to Hong Kong people. No Hong Kong people aspire independence then. Where were the whole bunch of you hypocrites then?

[@KD-jg5yd]

British government had 156 years, or 156- 20 ( china open since 1979) - 3 (japan ruling years) = 133 years to establish democracy , elections in hongkong , when china is not as powerful as today is. But , British DID NOT. And now British is yelling for democracy for Hong Kong and blame China? Beats me to understand your logic behind your reasoning.

[@winfredwu5432]

If Beijing had such a strong power that prevented British from giving democracy to Hongkong, why couldn’t they force the Hk government to pass the extradition bill today even when Hk is already a part of China?

[@winnington6923]

Because to China the extradition law isn't as beneficial compared to the risk of mass NATO sanctions (especially now with the vastly effective trade war from America )

[@loot6]

It's not the same at all. If China had continued the way they were with this bill it would mean world war 3. Not the same as the threats back then. Giving democracy and passing this extradition bill are not the same things at all anyway. Not to mention that it was Hong Kong themselves protesting about this bill....but were they protesting about democracy in their millions back then?

[@ifuknjk]

it is soft power... not b seen by the world as a bully... china cn WAIT 4 another 26 years 2 get 110% back n see if hkees will then shout independance...2019 china can easily turn off the water or send 10 million mainland chinese into hk 2 de=stabalise hk.... win win.

[@turmuthoer]

That's just it, because Hong Kong is now on the same side of the border. You don't invade your own country. Also, it's because Hong Kong just isn't worth that much anymore (at least not to the Chinese). At the time of the handover, Hong Kong's economy was a full 20% the size of China's. Today, it is less than 3%. They can afford to take a much more relaxed approach to Hong Kong now since, unlike the days of British rule, it is no longer vital to their economic prosperity or their only gateway to western markets.

[@jzkszjc]

Winnington Why China was not scared of sanction back then?

[@gokusays]

Absolutely no understanding of history. 1) how did Britain seize Hong Kong, 2) they allowed you to rise up the meager ranks with a glass ceiling, and she is singing their praises, 3) China did not develop just in the Pearl River Delta, she grew exponentially all along the coasts, it was China's opening up that made the biggest difference.

[@sebastiankingong7536]

Out Hong Kong Chief Secretary Anson Chan giving excuse for United Kingdom failing to introduce democracy in Hong Kong. Hong Kong, Malaysia , India and Singapore exercise Commonwealth law and why Hong Kong under Patten and Anson failed to follow the rest of Commonwealth nations. They have own selfish attitude by refusing erection of low cost housing. In Singapore the government introduced low cost housing. Patten and Anson encouraged more private property development . Patten is smarter, he left Hong Kong and Anson fail to make it.

[@jasonchan7980]

We can also learn from Singapore about oppressive regimes that limit freedom of speech, press, privacy and so on. The world needs to continuously improve where human rights issues are addressed and corrected

[@crewbar6]

SebastianKing Ong do you really think that Beijing would ever accept any law not entirely promulgated by/for the Chinese Government ?

[@zuhairahmedsyed5853]

India is democratic.

[@LittlePanda888]

@@jasonchan7980 do a poll in singapore and see how many feels that they are being "opressed" in general...

[@jenna.hill712]

How did British HK govt fail to introduce low cost housing, while 50% of current population live in such housing? Lai Tak Tseun in Tai Hang was exactly named after Michael Wright ("Wu, Lai Tak"), who was famous for Wright Principle in the architecture of HK public housing.

[@Jamie-nt3eh]

She achieved nothing for HK when she was in office as no 2. Now retired she is trying to speak for HK. It's a little late.

[@coast1858]

No, she was speaking for UK.

[@colinchow1618]

Jamie Ho she is speaking and promoting Hong Kong Independence now.

[@gendoruwo6322]

true. but it's still better than just staying quiet forever (which is what CCP wants everyone to do: either be quiet, or praise CCP).

[@condorX2]

A nobody always trying to undermined a prominent politician achievements. Try being one in the US and try making a difference.

[@francisco4benites]

Jamie yea she was just a Chinese puppet and now wants to blame Britian as it being their fault that Hong Kong will be raped of its wealth and it wasn't the money of the Chinese that made Hong Kong what it is it was just an fishing island when it was taken over lol

[@gmailontsui1819]

Don't give out excuses why Britain did not democratize HK during their colonization period. If Britain insisted to do that and felt it was the top priority or best interest for the HK people why would it be afraid of China's threat of taking HK back by force? and why it had not consulted the HK people their will of having higher degree of democracy and just ignore China's threat? BECAUSE if China had taken HK back by force it would have hurt Britain''s commercial and strategic interest in HK before 1997, when Britain was still reaping the fruits from HK!! Britain never had considered HK people's best interest on the matter of democracy. If the China's threat of using forces to suppress HK at any costs is real then why should HK people defy China with extreme agitation like today's HK independence and violence and harm the majority of HK people's interest and livelihood? Britain would care or less about HK when it comes to the big commercial interest today with China which British big corporations like Rolls Royce and HSBC and Swires alike cannot afford to lose. Don't ever day dreaming UKs involvement in the HK matters for HK people nor finding excuses for the former colonial ruler NOT to implement democracy in the past 150 years.

[@wcleongalan]

If your argument holds water that the UK never had considered HK people's best interest on the matter of democracy, then can you explain why did the UK gave independence to other countries then like India, Ceylon, Malaysia (including Singapore), and a host of other commonwealth countries. Don't argue simply for the sake of argument without providing the complete facts. China should not have come out now to argue that the UK didn't democratize HK when the then Chinese leaders are the real ones stopping UK from doing so. On this point, China tries to act as if they are on higher moral grounds when they are just simply a hypocrite to begin with. Some more, China can even tell the whole world now that the 50-year Agreement that they signed with UK guaranteeing HK's "One country, two systems" is simply a bullshit agreement with UK . What a hypocritical monster China has really become that they can don't even recognise any official agreement they have signed !!!

[@jyashin]

@@wcleongalan The UK had absolutely no power to hold onto India. there is no way a country of 1 million could control a population of 200 million 5000 miles away. Malaysia was let go in 1963, seven years after the Suez Crisis. That conflict proved to the world the UK had absolutely no power remaining to hold onto any of its colonies. The then Chinese leaders never stopped the UK from democratizing Hong Kong. They were only against Hong Kong becoming an independent dominion. That's because of the strong unifying identity of China. Stalin and Truman wanted to divide China into two countries as well, which China's leaders adamantly refused to do. One country, two systems is an agreement that China has committed fully to. One country comes first, two systems comes second. Hong Kong's citizens have outright ignored the one country part. You don't get two systems then.

[@thadiussean9133]

@@wcleongalan the UK had no ability to hold onto any of those lands. Simple as that.

[@gendoruwo6322]

there's truth to what everyone here has said. but ultimately this debate is pointless. what matters is what HK people wants now.

[@Tommah1000]

The success of China was kickstarted by Hong Kong money? The way she said it seemed like some sort of philanthropy project or scholarship program. China’s phenomenal success was buttressed in the opening of markets for competition between private enterprises. Yes, Hong Kong played a major role in this because it was the portal into China, but HK institutions participated in the business opportunities afforded by the market reform program initiated in 1979 because it was lucrative.

[@DavidJohnson-dp4vv]

Still doesn't take away from the fact that HK was instrumental in developing China. Like you said it wasn't charity but it doesn't take away from the fact HK invested still heavily invest in China.

[@didijin8903]

@@DavidJohnson-dp4vv in that case, Hong Kong investors also been benefit the most from the investment. is win-win for both party.

[@Mhow-ib6kq]

Well said She twwistted the fact of China's real success

[@huangxc8029]

Hongkong' role in Chinese achievement in the last 30 or more years is nothing but a channel of finance and technology and maybe know-how, but if there was not a place called hongkong, there will be a megacity growed with China called sthelse. you understand little about how economy grows in Mainland China. China provided the best investment opportunities in for the money in the past 30 or more years. Hongkong was just happened to be there.

[@rblee168]

China’s open door policy was a business opportunity where Hong Kong was in an envious position to have a unfair advantage over other countries. It was not a charity coming from the kindness of it’s heart from the business community.

[@paulineanh1119]

Anson talked about the China now and then (when signing joint declaration)..... I just wonder how often or even has she visited China in the last decade???

[@ifuknjk]

anson chan has a british passport... NOT a chinese passport/

[@colinchow1618]

Pauline Anh probably not

[@dorjilew6248]

Hongkong people have right to choose what their rights and future should be. Colonization of Hongkong by British in the past was illegal in the first place and so was it's handing over to China. What is illegal of a law that itself is illegal?

[@CoconutWater787]

Andreas M why the same?

[@justeincwong]

Hypocrisy ! UK did not do that before 1997,what do U say?

[@adriansaw8329]

ZHOU Enlai threatened to invade if democratic elections were introduced in HKG. Did you not hear what was explained?

[@pradyota]

J j u idiot that because ccp will not let it happen and interfere it and the fact is ccp have threatened to take back hongkong If Britain do that.

[@francischan3785]

What a silly question ! Hong Kong was only a colony. What democracy!

[@nathanwatches]

Of course they didn't. Cause the cow still can be milked!

[@rage8kage]

Uk didn't even want to give it's women the vote until the government was forced to. Why would it want to give the third class citizens the vote. That's like giving your cat the vote

[@rcheng3771]

So china is the one making the policy for hong kong before 1997? Curious if she was appointed by china.

[@edwardong5148]

Nonesense....What had she done for the people of Hong Kong when she was the Chief Secretary ? God knows how much wealth she and her family had accumulated when she was the Hong Kong Chief Secretary ...... Dare to swear to GOD that she was clean !!!!

[@jeff__w]

_With regard to Hong Kong there was an important point he (Chou En-lai) wished to put forward personally to Mr. MacMillan, or at least to his deputy. A plot, or conspiracy, was being hatched to make Hong Kong a self-governing Dominion like Singapore. This had the approval of several members of the British and Hong Kong Governments. He wished Mr MacMillan to know that _*_China would regard any move towards Dominion status as a very unfriendly act. China wished the present colonial status of Hong Kong to continue with no change whatever._* -Extract from a note by Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Cantlie on his interview with Chou En-lai in Peking on 30 January 1958

[@jyashin]

Yeah, China was against Hong Kong becoming a self-governing dominion. Doesn't mean Britain couldn't introduce democratic measures in a colony. And let's not forget Britain was in Hong Kong for 100 years before the PRC was even founded.

[@Herman47]

@@jyashin And during much of that 100 years, Hong Kong was far smaller in population. The UK had not even given India its independence during most of that 100 years; it's not going to be thinking about relatively tiny Hong Kong. The more important fact is that certainly by the middle 1960s the UK was wanting to move Hong Kong toward democracy, but the "People's Republic of China" said "no."

[@johnbull9195]

@@jyashin Yes, Britain was in Hong Kong for 100 hunder years before but one-man-one-vote didn't even exist in Britain one hundred years before. Universal sufferage only came into effect in Britain in 1918.

[@wk9378]

It's because it is not in the best interest of UK.

[@Jamie-nt3eh]

No it was not in the best interest of UK. UK saw a big market opening up and wanted to dip into honey jar.

[@hongerhonger8915]

60s and 70s??? Do we believe you that Zhou told the British what you said??? China had its hands full with the Cultural Revolution, Great Leap Forward, etc. China did not talk about HK with the British till the early 80s under the JLG! How could you twist and turn facts?

[@luckyluke1503]

Because they didn’t own HK. HK was rented not bought like Alaska.

[@larryl1517]

A colony is colony, master won't treat slave as freeman.

[@lianwee9023]

In spite of her claiming otherwise, she still does sound like an apologist of the UK for not implementing one-man-one-vote in HK. She said China threatened the UK in 1960s not to implement election in HK. Would the UK in the 1960s be afraid of the China in the 1960? I don't think so.

[@loot6]

It obviously wasn't worth going to war over. Anyway, China defeated Japan in the second world war so I think they could not be taken as lightly as you suggest. War is never something a country goes to on a whim anyway.

[@usnxx3755]

This island is easy to attack but hard to defend.

[@thadiussean9133]

@@loot6 how could China go to war with Britain in the 1960s? China had absolutely no force projection, poorly trained army, no Navy, and the beging of the cultural revolution.

[@davidwong5197]

@@loot6 OMG. That was because Japanese surrendered to the atomic bomb.

[@Herman47]

By 1966, China had the Hydrogen Bomb. The U.K. did too, but certainly they are not going to do anything to promote notable discord.

[@gj8550]

Chan: ‘...phenomenal economic growth in China was kickstarted by Hong Kong...’ what a laughable claim by this arrogant , brainwashed former Chief British Puppet. China’s phenomenal economic success was a result of a government with a brilliant long term vision, masterful execution and the combined hard work of the people in mainland China. Kudos to them.

[@atropatise8671]

Nope just slave labour

[@Li.Siyuan]

It was. Money flowed like a river into Shenzhen from Hong Kong from merchants who, by mainland Chinese standards were filthy rich. Much of it was spent on mistresses, prostitution, 'second wives' and other illegal activities frowned on by the CCP but which is still a fact of life in the real world, no matter how much China doesn't want to admit it. These people brought knowledge and investment that China just didn't possess with them, thus giving the mainland the impetus to get itself going. The Government were then clever enough to take advantage of it, opened up its borders to foreign investment and make China the powerhouse it has become. Sadly, they are now looking more and more inwardly and the trend is starting to reverse itself with more and more businesses moving to places like Vietnam.

[@mfbiphone]

@@atropatise8671 You can do anything you set your mind to when you have vision, determination, and an endless supply of expendable labor. Also yes, China did require the advanced skills, management, and transparency of HK in order to proceed, especially after the Great Leap Backwards eliminated the vast majority of the professionals.

[@jyashin]

@@Li.Siyuan No, money flowed into and out of Hong Kong because it had the unique position of being the only point of contact with mainland China. China had just opened up in 1979, so almost all businesses were conducted via Hong Kong due to its unique position. You completely messed up the cause and effect. Once China joined the WTO in 2001, Hong Kong was finished. Companies no longer operated via Hong Kong, they just directly set up shop in Shanghai or Guangzhou. Hong Kong has no ability for manufacturing or tech; just look at its location on google maps. It's only contribution is finance and property. As an artificially created city, Hong Kong cannot survive on its own. It has to integrate economically with a natural city, namely Guangzhou. However, political measures have isolated Hong Kong, creating its current economic woes.

[@atropatise8671]

@@mfbiphone you are absolutely right.

[@screenapple1660]

Anson Chan didn't foresee HK TRIADS raid subway.

[@ifuknjk]

triads r dead. after 1997... u don't see triads in china !!!// it is a poor excuse.. triads use choppers not sticks...

[@Jamie-nt3eh]

In anson times corruption and triad police was openly practiced

[@sadrakhusravani2852]

Can anyone clear me the democratic procedure that queen/king is selected as the head of state in UK democratically?

[@RaymondHng]

First of all, the sovereign, who is the Head of State of the United Kingdom, is a constitutional monarch that is chosen by primogeniture (first born) succession. The Act of Settlement is an Act of the Parliament of England that was passed in 1701 to settle the succession to the English and Irish crowns on Protestants only. The next Protestant in line to the throne was the Electress Sophia of Hanover, a granddaughter of James VI of Scotland, I of England and Ireland. After her, the crowns would descend only to her non-Roman Catholic heirs.

[@johnbull9195]

That are not democratically elected, thankfully in Britain we keep the Head of State out of the hands of grubby politicians.

[@52beautifulmind]

The reason that she said is consistent with what Chris Patten told Peter Hennessy on BBC radio 4 a week ago.

[@EddieCheong168]

Whatever reasons & whatever excuses, the fact is HK was taken by war from the motherland, now it is reunited, China have all the right on how to govern its own land. If you don't like it, just leave, nobody is stopping you.

[@johnbull9195]

It does not have the right to oppress it's own people and remove their freedoms and liberties.

[@donald7013]

Good luck to you !

[@1789Bastille]

HongKong needs to define their future. Do they want to become independent or join China? Under what terms? What laws and constitution are people protesting for in 30 to 40 years?

[@josephmak2315]

Ask the UN but sadly the reconize ccp as real china so gg

[@ianwoo7613]

香港基本法第十八条：全国人民代表大会常务委员会决定宣布战争状态或因香港特别行政区内发生香港特别行政区政府不能控制的危及国家统一或安全的动乱而决定香港特别行政区进入紧急状态，中央人民政府可发布命令将有关全国性法律在香港特别行政区实施。

[@gordon9367]

watched it a year later.... ".. the rest of the world should stop and think ...the China you want to be dealing with in the longer term", by Prophet Fong

[@jgr7487]

companies had the right to vote in HK, the same way they had in the City of London.

[@harvey642]

This is because the British promoted democracy to the Hong Kong people in 1995,which HK would be returned to China 2 years later. The British want to leave the value of Democracy behind and make China, which is a dictator country,very embarrassing and harder to rule Hong Kong since China don’t have any democracy.

[@rblee168]

What did you smoke this morning?

[@stevesynergy168]

She should be our SARS executive instead. A very smart and intelligent lady.

[@yy-fl5kn]

I'm sorry, a colony is colony , it will never have full election power, cus it is a colony. And that's why britain could not and would not give them the power to elect their own leader, a colony should and would be lead by the central government, Simple. In 1997, HK was handed BACK to China, not to HK. So, China is the country which decide how to run it. And it gave them the power to elect their leader, like a major in others country, Not president. Second, HK had been doing trading with China a long time before 1997, Tiger brand battery, table cloth, underwear, trainers etc., sold to many countries, especially the developing ones because the were cheap.. When China slowly open it's door, HK, Taiwan's factory start moving their factory into the mainland cus of lower cost and bigger space. You can't blame them, cus as a trader myself. Customers keep asking to lower the wholesale price, and in turn ,we ask the factory to lower their price. That's why they moved to China.The economic wind has changed direction lady. Face it. HK people should find more opportunities in our motherland. China needs time to develop, British or American also took many years to become what they are today, and changes should be done slowly, carefully. You can't do it in an overnight. HK has a good government. You should help them to expand , we need more space to live, more working and business opportunities. But first you need to open up your mind.

[@ralphng3332]

China's history as dynasties clearly show it has a long way ahead for democracy. US history is rosy either but thank god its constituiton was written early very well.

[@0157matt]

But the West robbed Asia

[@canman5060]

Not during the colonial administration but democratize by introducing Democracy in the 1990 Hong Kong Basic Law.

[@jyashin]

Which was a result of China pressuring the UK in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

[@huahuomm]

Why there is still no democracy after British left?

[@s0vhjfe4SA08adc9js]

Because China violated the basic law and the joint declaration, communists always make promises that they don't intend to keep. Just look at North Korea...

[@chunhaylee]

Hong Kong had everything minus one-man-one vote? BULLL SHEEEET. We also did not have a real British Passport. We were third class citizens.

[@harveyfreeman1712]

Some HKers had the BNO(unfortunately BNO does not allow people go to UK to live there), BNO is just used to make you feel better than the other Chinese and make you royal to sever the interest of UK. It is like Belgium make the Tutsi as ruling class of Rwanda to divide the country for easy colonial administration. When Belgium left, Rwanda people started killing each other. After UK left, Hong Kong is split into pro and against Beijing group.

[@cart172]

Exactly. Anson herself was a first-class citizen though. Lol

[@tinaz1818able]

chunhaylee so true

[@KX5Kat]

There's another thing keeping Beijing at bay, when it comes to Hong Kong; the personal interests of CCP members. Many CCP members are invested in and own HK real-estate as HK has long been used as a way for CCP members to get their dirty money out of China. Should HK fall under Beijing control, HK stocks and real-estate values will plummet and a huge amount of CCP members will be infuriated at the hole in their pocket.

[@ifuknjk]

they all executed by XI....

[@thadiussean9133]

RMB cannot be freely exchanged. Hong Kong houses many foreign corporations operating in China, including many of China's biggest companies. It's finance industry is much more developed than anything in the mainland.

[@neohillbilly1]

my god mother said 30 years ago save future heart aches for the world keep china poor

[@kenyifrancis3145]

That's crazy, it makes no sense, the British occupied a district in China, does it makes it a country. If democracy is good why force people to accept it, let every civilization decide what is good for it self.

[@BruceLCM]

Agree. No one should force HK to accept democracy. Let Hongkongers decide whether to have it or not. Why does the Chinese government stand in the way?

[@jellybrain1458]

Hong kong is a typical colonial economy, it’s monopolistic economy, it basically preferred or empowered the tycoons to run Hong Kong , to divide up the spoils between themselves above all in the field of property where most of the money was made.

[@et1097]

Hypocrisy

[@himinghii1597]

Anyone with sufficient understanding of CCP should know and accept that Hong Kong will only be given more freedom than mainlanders for a limited period of time. Anson by going around now slandering claiming that China broken his promise on the Joint Declaration and cannot be trusted in every way is herself a big traitor to our motherland. She avoided the fact that China has full sovereignty over Hong Kong that China has full and ultimate rights on governing Hong Kong not beholden to anybody else.

[@jackytang3683]

I appreciate India's action on Goa,one country one system can solve all problems.

[@tocrob]

it's not about problems - it's about interests.

[@treplay8846]

No china became rich india always poor

[@mightymizzar9672]

Yes independence for Hong Kong is the answer

[@UNSKIALzPSN]

Not according to the Hong Kong people! And they are who count. China cannot be allowed to throw HKers rights and progress back to the 12th Century!

[@yottky]

India is a democracy, China is not, which is the main reason for 2 systems. Even the Beijing leaders understood at that time their system doesn't work elsewhere. Only the current dictator doesn't. He is probably too busy to make sure he will become the president of china for the rest of his life.

[@Xx-kc1yd]

Her accent is beautiful

[@wfiver1427]

In 1997, China wanted to govern HongKong exactly as the British did. How could the British refuse without being hypocritical. That was how the One country two systems came about.

[@gruweldaad]

The British governed open societies within Britain and in their very few remaining colonies in the late 20th Century. China has never been an open society and is progressively closing off Hong Kong as much as they can, in addition to perverting their independent judiciary. If you can’t see the difference between an open society and a surveillance state, you’re pretty much incapable of understanding any state.

[@mymvds]

When a group of people from Jiaoling( Hakka Villiage) including my father enrouted back from Santao port to Myanmar, where he was born, after world war II by an oceanliner, they had to stop over in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong they were treated by colony power very badly, i think, then the thought of Hong Kong liberation ingrained in his mind till he died in 1987. Too bad that he did not have a chance to witness the return of Hong Kong back to China in 1997. For that i felt very bad untill now. Now here what i have for my father, rest in peace and be happy, Hong Kong is backed to the country that you loved dearly. The country is progressing day by day. I will carry on your wish dady: Why should China to adopt so call De-More-Cracy like DPP from Taiwan Island and yellow umbrella group from Hong Kong. what is wrong with the system of governing the way it is in China? Isn't it China is doing better to alleviate more than 400 millians people from poverty under the current system and better yet becoming world second industrial country. China imported even Buddhism from India. Any system is becoming no good when becoming extreme. So China the way it goes ism with China characteristic is better suited to such a big population. Awhile back when i visited Texas, an oil industry executive told us that you, Chinese do not have communism in their blood but only capitalism. So whatever suit to the country the best and go for it, don't let outside intimidate what you are doing the best so far. No need to warship either communist nor democracy.

[@adriansaw8329]

just need to have freedoms and basic rights protected- which is absent in certain systems. Hence the crux of the problem.

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

Think where China would be it never went communist? Taiwan should rule China then it wouldnt have take so long to progress from a third world country. And HK was not treated badly by the UK, they were extremely prosperous. Look at how the CCP treats its citizens, now you know why HK protests.

[@Catherinetatethefkingliberty]

Yes. Well said. No need for -isms and -ologies. No need for extremities of democracy nor communism. Reality doesn't need any form of puritanical ideology. Unfortunately the young people of Hong Kong want fair election and a judiciary system that is totally independent of politicians. And whether Beijing likes it or not, the fact is Hong Kong and Taiwan have matured and developed in the civil, social and economic areas before China did. Pro Beijing netizens keep screaming that people who are pro democracy are westernized dogs who lick the testicles of the west. But really, Taiwan and Hong Kong are very very Chinese too, in a different way from China but still the Chinese characteristics are unmistakable. Just because the young Hong kongers desire for greater independence and autonomy doesn't make them non Chinese or pro USA. The western colonial shitheads who took over Hong Kong treated the Chinese badly deserve to be condemned and criticized, but Chinese people who treat their own people badly...Is it internal affair that can't be criticized and condemned⁇

[@klauspendolo1393]

徐淼林 徐淼林 you ask what is wrong the way China is governed. Let me tell you. The people have no choice in which direction their country goes. They’re like insects in a hive: the Queen decides and they can only obey. Critic journalists gets in jail or disappear and the same happens to critics of the system, or speakers for human Rights. None of this happens in a democracy, only in a dictatorship. The extensive censorship that has to shape your mind as THEY want, the spying on people .... I could go on for hours but I do not have the energy to do it today, also because I believe it’s useless. You grew up with that dictatorship and you have learned to love the hand with the beating stick...I’m not gonna change that by a youtube comment. For you that’s the level by how you live and understand in China.I’m just sorry that people CAN be tought to love their oppressors so easily so in the end you dont even question it, and would attack whoever tries to free you from your oppressor. That typical behaviour of humans is also seen in wimen trying to protect their rapist, they have been caged inside their minds so they learned to doubt their right to freedom and love the values of their oppressors instead. You wanna see whats wrong with China ? Go out in the street with. “ Free Tibet” or “I stand with the Dalai Lama” t-shirt. You see then what happens. If any says for example in the US : “ Indipendence for Alabama” nobody cares, it’s your freedom. I really dont think you know the meaning of that word my friend. You only focus on “feeding the people” and keeping their bodies alive is really nice, you would be living, but not be alive. There’s no life in a cage, even if they told you and teached you to think it is. We tried dictatorship in Europe my friend, we tried. We all know how it went. If that’s the system you love, it’s very sad. But unfortunately a reality in many societies. I bet alot said the same in Europe under WW2: “ whats wrong with the nazis?” The question itself reveals the extent of the brain washing and silencing of truth...

[@given-namesurname5740]

What are you trying to say by "China imported Buddhism"? They made up their own fake Dalai Lama while the real one lives in India, and there so many refugees from Tibet in India because of Marxist persecution. The CPP "elevated" so many people from poverty by destroying their country and their neighbors. Smog is so bad there that surgical masks are a fashion trend even when people move off the mainland. HK isn't back to the country he loved dearly, the legit successor to that country is the Republic of China on Taiwan. The PRC is as fake as their tainted baby formula, poison pet food, fentanyl, and everything else they manufacture without care as long as they make money.

[@bowlampar]

The reason Britain leased present day HK from China is not because it wanting to make HK a ' Democracy ' but to make use of its ideal location as British Empire's far east trading hub and its colonized island as sea port to facilitate its trade and commerce in that region. Democratization of HK is never a goal of a British Empire during the era of its great influence and power in Asia. HK is mainly just a connecting objective toward reaching a bigger global economic goal for Britain.

[@hongerhonger8915]

The UK never introduced democracy in any of its colonies. Chan knows this but pretends and makes excuses/blame others for the lack of democracy in HK. The functional constituencies and EXCO system are designed by the British to make sure the powerful hongs/companies are in power and have the most say in how the colony is run. They are the ones responsible for the rise of the property and banking behemoths who essentially are the kings of this city. China inherited a Hong Kong based on such a system - which Deng promised would not change for 50 years. If anything, the British should have done away with the FCs when formal talks started in 1984 or earlier. Such hypocrisy and twisting of history.

[@cslao2403]

This women pick and said parts of the reality. She is clever I admit.

[@fangqiwu3798]

That’s absolutely the right piece of history that CCP choose to not mention

[@DK3n70]

This is a really smart lady..

[@thejoin4687]

China's infernal affairs

[@jasontang9192]

I forgot what is the racist term outsider give to China. So many of that type china here

[@tonyatgoogle6076]

Am not an apologist for Great Britain.... lol that's a lie.

[@NangongReng1973]

If u are idealist , you would agree to what Anson Chan say. But u are a realist, what she says would be rubbish? First of all, Basic Law has said One ctry , 2 systems. No ctry, not even Britain would allow one of its territory to be separated for whatever reasons. Of course China wants a pro China Chief Executive.If That Chief Executive doesn’t abide the one ctry concept before the 2 systems, how could HK carried out its policies? You can do whatever u want until 2049, but the govt has to be pro China.

[@melopc]

Read section 18 of the basic law, Chan Tai.

[@zotoda]

but in 30 years that wont exist anymore, mind

[@user-ze8yw9yr8i]

She is such a hypocrite.

[@weicailim8120]

my take is that Hong Kong needs to grow up and face the reality of today world.. stop giving excuses and grow up, soon or later.. thanks

[@timetoreflect1394]

Hong Kong Chief Secretary Anson Chan, I must say you are a very wise woman. The Western Nations are guilty of making this dragon so powerful, called China.

[@xuc03]

Hong Kong was colonized by the UK for over 100 years, what they really did for Hong Kong? Not that much, most of people lived in very poor conditions and they dont really know their identities as the result of being colonized by the different culture.

[@cb250nighthawk3]

xuc03 : well, they did line up their own pockets, allowing triads, hooligans, criminals to run the island.

[@nathanwatches]

And some even still flying British flag during the recent protest. Tell them to ask from their grand parents what Brits really did to them. Fools.

[@jenna.hill712]

xuc03 Only more freedom than China, free education, prosperous economy, better healthcare, advanced infrastructures and global financial hub. Really, it was nothing much to Hong Kong.

[@yottky]

50 cent troll, you are wrong, most people came to hk are refugees fled from the repressive communist china. They knew their identities - someone with dignity and will not work for the Communist dictators for 50 cents (wikipedia:"50 cent Party").

[@johnlamond4463]

Another ignorant troll. you don't have the first idea about what you are writing.

[@garethifan1034]

She's totally right.

[@controllerismxg3516]

So if you know how to mention the word " MOTHERLAND " But do you know what it means.

[@HongKong.Shenzhen.]

go.anson

[@r.a.8618]

Poor Hong Kong kids, if you have never been instilled the idea of democracy, you could've had a happier childhood. Who was the ruthless guy who taught them about it?

[@given-namesurname5740]

This joke made me smile

[@michaelfitz56]

This woman did not do her homework. When you lease a price of land you can develop it only with the approval with the ownership. You are chinese first and any other after

[@honghengpowe85]

Strongly agreed with you. This woman a traitor to China

[@MrGamer-dj1we]

michaelfitz56 you guys are brainwashed communist bots.

[@HTeo-og1lg]

She had said that she is against schools in HK making learning Putonghua compulsory! That statement by her says it all . She does not see herself as Chinese. But alas she must secretly loath possessing s yellow skin, and slitty eyes. She surely reminiscing the glory days serving the Queen as Chris Patten's right-hand henchwoman.

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

@@honghengpowe85 She isnt a CCP puppet. Chinese is Singapore, Taiwan, HK, and many other areas have done extremely well. The CCP oppresses Chinese people.

[@ulerkadut8582]

no no no. she will said im british (flashing her britain passport proudly)

[@rickmorti7946]

This woman going to jail soon once she land Asia countries.

[@k.ganesanganesan6825]

Democracy is first.

[@sweetbean5139]

Althrough i am prochina, this lady actually make some senses.

[@given-namesurname5740]

I wonder how much ad revenue did this get from Winnie the Pooh's wu mao

[@duck29sh]

Just try to protect her former boss (Britain)

[@linling1240]

kick start with hk money? i dont think so

[@hyuxion]

HK people should not make excuse for their own problem. Whether it is one person one vote or not, HK has its own government, and retains all its tax revenue, it has so many resources and tools in its disposal! Fix your own problem, and stop complaining!

[@user-jg3pl2gg1n]

Actually China can put any law that she wants in the constitution of HK and change laws so that isn't really democracy, HK should become their own state because there are so much differences between HK people and mainland Chinese people

[@judyvine4250]

If u look through Britain history, you will found that this is a country that get more and more respect human

[@Lu5ck]

UK become a democracy in year 1928. After the ww2, UK did consider granting democracy to HK. However, people must remember the victor of China is the CCP led by Mao. In early 1950s, Mao threatened to take back HK by force the moment he learnt that UK wanted to implement democracy in HK. Every decade, the chinese will always thraten UK if UK ever wanted to implement democracy in HK. All of these threats are well documented, just google for it. Anyway, don't believe those chinese nationalists in the comment page, they are really hard at work in spouting bullshits everywhere on youtube. if anything, believe that China be very well the reason why ww3 to be started.

[@alexzhang22]

In the early 1950s and every decade after, the UK government will really be afraid of a threat from Mao Government which only started in 1949? That does not sound logical.

[@xiaoyuzhang925]

No ifs NO Buts - Boris Johnson.

[@ngkokbeng]

Stop and think. The political system in Taiwan and Hongkong are far more "democratic" than the mainland. If economic success and quality of people's lives are connected to democracy according to Chan, then you need to ask why people in PRC seem better off than people in HK and Taiwan. Should China change its political system to a lousier one as in Britain, which clearly is going down the drain?

[@s0vhjfe4SA08adc9js]

What a lie. The standard of living is lower in China by every single measure than HK or Taiwan. Google it, its clear on every single measure, life expectancy, GDP per capita, freedom indices, literally EVERYTHING. China is a nightmare for not only its people, but for all of Asia, who they persistently try and dominate. Nice try CCP troll.

[@EndtheCCP369]

its tiananmen square massacre! not incident!

[@carmanyeung9030]

well said,

[@Uniqorn]

Hong Kong independence becoming a whole new country is the only solution

[@francisco4benites]

What I would say to the Hong Kong people is if you want your freedom you need to invest in a military force and start building an army and use your wealth to buy a missile defense and some how get the backing of Japan and Taiwan

[@klauspendolo1393]

? What have people smoked in here? HK have democracy.....lol

[@djdoolittle1315]

Back off UK 😷☝️🇮🇷

[@jiapusun7718]

you are not an apologist? alright, we all know it's not your fault, but can you criticize them?

[@ZKYBill]

British = good HongKong= British HongKong = good China = BAD end of argument

[@nsshing]

Independence is the only way out for Hong Kong to be honest.

[@eddieloke8303]

See her expensive jacket. This is a rich people view of the world.

[@Mania28]

Hong Kong was a two bit fishing village until Britain ruled it. The best thing that ever happened to Hong Kong was being under British rule.

[@mkthon3657]

Madam you are once an influential person during the British rules because you were so royal to the British colonies partly for your own benefits as well as you have no other choices at that period of time do you ma'am? no one will blame you for that as you are in Rome you just do like a Roman do. 1997 was the year of maturity so the British have no choice but reluctantly handed back Hong Kong to CHINA. China was patience enough to put on test the one country with two systems to observed the states of its progress. But very unfortunstely having given an inch most the English educated western influenced wants a foot instead. What Democratic are you talking about. What is wrong with China having the highest populations in the world and had achieved a very strong economy in a very short time. Are you not proud to see your mother land achievement? Can't you do as in Rome do like the Roman's do. You all the Hongkies in your mother's land CHINA now. How ungrateful you all were keeping on trying to refered to the so called declaration been worded 50 years. Fair enough man's makes rules as at that period of time were not convinced as to how China rules will be like. After a reasonable period of 4 to 5 years, any wise human beings will be able to judges the progress of the present and the past the differences. The great achievements China had made was it not enough to convince you and all the Hongkies? Don't the Chinese in mainland not enjoyed the freedom as you do? They are much, much better now than your British's time ma'am. Don't be a fog's in the well. Or just to pleased the British that your royalty is still with them. You can pleased them in reality by inviting them to come to Hong Kong to see for themselves what the progress Hong Kong has got in this very short time after handling over. Be proud of your motherland ma'am. You are considered very fortunate to be abled to live to witnessed Hong Kong handed back to China, its sad many wanted but fates does not permit. MAY GOD BLESSED THEIR SOULS.