Interview｜Shen Xuhui: Talking about "immigration" makes no sense to call on Hong Kong people not to be afraid

Political situation

Written by: Lin Jian

2020-07-03 07:00

Using "international relations scholars" does not seem to be enough to summarize Shen Xuhui's identity. He is both a scholar, a KOL, and a businessman. For a long time, he was regarded as a centrist, all-round symbol. Before the storm occurred, he was interviewed by Ta Kung Pao to encourage young people to start businesses in the Greater Bay Area. However, after the Yuen Long 7.21 attack, he interviewed that there was no room for the centrists.

The social chaos in Hong Kong in the past year has changed the structure and appearance of the entire society. The "National Security Act of the Minato District" has just passed this week. The strong social shock is inevitable. The political situation has opened a new page. Search for words. In an era of diverse society and upheaval, through interviews with Shen Xuhui, you may be able to understand the views of quite a few traditional middle-class elites.

Shen Xuhui said that as a person with little interest in politics, he would actively express his opinions because he felt that in the past ten years, some core values ​​that had been believed had been destroyed and the bottom line was crossed. I did not want some extremely bad things to happen in Hong Kong. Situation: For immigrants, he thinks it is meaningless to talk about this topic. The message is that Hong Kong people do not need to have some unnecessary fears and fall into the trap of some people. Instead, they live as usual and store their strength to help Hong Kong go through the era. Personally, he has traveled around the world and will spend more time in Hong Kong in the future.

From no interest in politics to "change in 2012"

Shen Xuhui's popularity in the local public opinion circle began with publication of articles in newspapers and online about ten years ago. But he believes that he is not enthusiastic about local politics. "I am not a commentator on current affairs, or someone who touches politics, and has no interest in politics." He pointed out that he really made him discover that there will be major changes in Hong Kong. Is the 2012 Chief Executive Election.

"The election of the Chief Executive at the time reminded me a lot of what is the core value of Hong Kong, and so on. (Elections) As everyone knows, I also thought that Hong Kong will be very different in the future. A previous one focused on elite consensus The political model will never come back. It is replaced by a more confrontation model. This is exactly what happened in the past decade."

Shen Xuhui explained that in his growing up, politics will be relatively "responsive" (reactive). He and many ordinary people understand the middle class and traditional elite. When they encounter some things that are not obvious, they will first communicate with the government and the internal system. Only when there is no talk will there be activities such as co-signing, which are quite moderate and will also establish a certain degree of trust between each other.

"Every action, we will "buckle a lot of blood." Because we have a certain position in the system, most institutions do not like us to express too much. Every time it takes a lot of time to justify (explain). But After all, even if the political system is undemocratic, the previous government will listen to public opinion. When public opinion clearly opposes something, the government will not force it, and the public will feel that "even the Qu (elite class) speak out." The government will always respond, and the people will feel that there is no room for discussion.

In 2012, the Chief Executive election was won by Liang Zhenying. Shen Xuhui pointed out that Hong Kong politics has undergone fundamental changes since that year. (Government Information Services/Information Picture)

"People will not change easily"

Shen Xuhui pointed out that since 2012, this kind of talkative political order is gone, and the government tends to replace consensus with confrontation. "By 2019, this situation is too serious to look back." Shen Xuhui was referring to the revision of the "Fugitive Offenders Regulations". He believes that in the process of disputes over the regulations, there were originally many opportunities for peaceful handling, but everyone will find that all the communication methods in the system have been exhausted, and it is still fruitless. In addition, Hong Kong’s confrontation has been unprecedentedly serious in the past year.

Based on these backgrounds, Shen Xuhui said that he and the middle-class and traditional elites around him have some bottom line crossed: "Actually, what many people around us want is not necessarily something very political, but some core values, not want some Freedom from fear is lost. If none of our next generation can freely think about things and express opinions, this is beyond our bottom line, especially when we all become parents."

Shen Xuhui pointed out that there are several situations that I do not want to see in Hong Kong in the future, including a society full of Cultural Revolution-style critiques, mutual confessions, and an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion in all walks of life, which he described as a "very violation of human nature" ; Or even a small ornament can lead to scolding. "The large market of small government that Hong Kong has depended on for success over the past few decades includes a civil society with mutual trust." He pointed out that Hong Kong has few natural resources, and its biggest asset is its talents. The characteristic of Hong Kong people is that they attach importance to the rule of law. While retaining some flexibility, it is not too bureaucratic. Abiding by the rules makes our financial system reliable, and retaining flexibility gives us an advantage over Singapore. If these advantages are strangled, Hong Kong will no longer be competitive and sustainable.

"People don't change easily. What changes is the objective social environment. It makes people feel that if they don't make a sound, they will go to an unacceptable point." Shen Xuhui, who has been vomiting since 2012, said, so the outside world said that he changed It's "turning around" that he has to speak positively, and he can't completely agree. "No one wants to do something that would make them very troublesome, but what happened in Hong Kong in the past year, in my understanding, is beyond the bottom line of many middle class and traditional elites.

The storm of anti-revision laws last year has made more people who were originally regarded as the center, including Shen Xuhui, active. (Profile picture)

Talking about immigration doesn’t make sense

Since June last year, the political situation in Hong Kong has been turbulent. In May this year, the news that the Central Government decided to enact the National Security Law was released. The Hong Kong political situation is ushering in a whole new situation. In the camp of democrats, there is a saying that arises: How should one choose between "immigrants, surrendering people, and mobs"?

Shen Xuhui felt that the discussion on "immigration" was meaningless.

"I don't want the reaction of the society to be a hysterical panic." He pointed out that if Hong Kong people are worried about the state of sovereignty (ie China), the rule of law is not good, this fear will not start today, even if there is no national security law. All exist, always exist. "I have some friends who are "interviewed" because of certain events when doing research in the Mainland. These things are not uncommon."

He mentioned: "People are panicking because they have uncertainty (uncertainty). Everyone increases their anxiety according to their own imagination. But this is exactly what the government wants to do if everyone There is a kind of white horror, even if you don’t dare to give it a like, it is very unhealthy.” He gave an example: “Even the iron curtain countries such as Poland and Hungary during the Cold War were not so panicked at that time. You are now afraid At that point, this is actually counter-productive (backfire), this is to follow the script of the other party, but the agenda (agenda) should be controlled by yourself."

May live in Hong Kong for a longer time

"I agree that everyone should have a different back-up plan (backup plan), and I also agree that different places in life have a base (base), especially after 2012, I will deliberately find other places to establish a base, such as Singapore, Taiwan. I have never been a person who has lived in Hong Kong for a long time, but after the past year, our feelings for this place will be much deeper. This is not an immigration solution, but may live in Hong Kong for a longer time, of course I will I often fly around. But I don’t think you should go to a point where you give up. When you see this kind of uncertainty, you don’t live in this place at all and give up completely." He pointed out that "home" is not a geographical concept, but an idea. From this perspective, he always sees Hong Kong as his home.

After the enactment of the National Security Law, there is great uncertainty in the future of Hong Kong, and some Hong Kong people have begun to think about immigration. (Profile picture/Photo by Liao Yanxiong)

Message from Hong Kong people to build local economy and reshape Hong Kong

Thinking further, Shen Xuhui expects that Hong Kong will enter a stage of restructuring the governance model in the next two years. "Authoritarian governance will become the main theme." However, he said that he would not be too pessimistic: "Any system will be overthrown, and the transition period must be painful. No matter how Hong Kong will be in two years, no one knows, because this involves the forces involved in the construction of this new system. It’s a very chaotic transition, and we will see something we don’t want to see.” But he believes that at this historical turning point, Hong Kong people have to think about what system they need in the future.

Shen Xuhui hopes that during this time, Hong Kong people should start from the basics as much as possible to build a local economy and enhance their own economic strength; even Hong Kong people overseas can also establish industries. "If many Hong Kong people have this (economic) ability, everyone's overall strength will naturally increase." This also echoes his previous view on immigration: "The immigration we used to say is to go to a foreign country to retire, and career is equal to dead-end." He believes that this can bring very important future Hong Kong contribution.

Chief Executive Lin Zhengyue signed the National Security Law of the Port Area on June 30, and the law officially came into effect. (Government Information Service)

As for this idea of ​​"storage strength", does it mean that there are other goals in the future? Shen Xuhui reiterated that he has no interest in politics. "People who are more utilitarian will think about elections, power seizures, and struggles. This is something that many people will think about in today's Hong Kong environment, but in fact, that (politics) is muddy and not constructive," he said. What I am really interested in is an "eco-system" (ecosystem), an environment in which resources can be properly allocated and operated smoothly. "The contribution of this ecosystem is far greater than some ups and downs, but there is usually no purely political controversy with good results."

Finally, he addressed the Hong Kong people: "I would like Hong Kong people to turn around in this great era-in the past year, everyone will have a sense of community of destiny. The community should share sufferings, common prosperity, and should not be at this most critical There are too many unnecessary fears. I believe that everyone in any position should continue to defend our place. If you don’t even have this hope, life will be a creature with only the physical layer left. , Then we don’t want to be like this, so I hope everyone will work hard together."

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