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Written by: Hao Ziyu
2021-04-20 18:00
Last update date: 2021-04-20 21:52
"Twenty years ago, people would call Hong Kong a "treasure of the world". Ten years ago, Hong Kong might be described as a "treasure of China", but now it is a "hub of the Greater Bay Area." If Hong Kong is not able to grasp its own advantages With hard work, innovation and reform, it will become a true "heart grinding between China and the United States." Huang Yushun summed up the changes in Hong Kong's role with four titles.
Whether it is due to the wishful thinking of "belonging to the Western world," or the political reality of resisting "Chinese sovereignty," Hong Kong has no reason and no room to evade reality.
Facing the problem squarely and revisiting oneself is the top priority.
You must know that as a part of China, Hong Kong's economic and social system is not restricted by the Mainland. "One country, two systems" is the infinite possibility of Hong Kong being left blank.
"Hong Kong in the New Global Order" Series 4 of 4
Series of articles:
Hong Kong sees the world | When China can look at the world, how Hong Kong looks at the new global order
Hong Kong Sees the West | A Mirrored Fantasy
Hong Kong depends on the country | How to go from resistance to acceptance
Special authorization under the Basic Law
The typical practice of "don't listen, don't see" negative thinking is also a common way of thinking for many Hong Kong people to deceive themselves.
Huang Yushun used an easy-to-understand and straightforward analogy to describe the relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland China: It is like telling a terminal cancer patient who is dying, "You will die soon." The patient not only does not believe it, but refers to the doctor's "black heart."
And when the condition really deteriorates rapidly, the patient or his family will scold the doctor for "single-handed cause."
"This is a bit like Hong Kong and the Mainland. At first, Hong Kong felt that the Mainland was so poor that it was impossible to surpass itself. But when people caught up, you lied to yourself "invisible and invisible." And when you are gradually replaced and dying , He accused the Central Committee of "it was all caused by you.""
As Christine Lu said in the previous article, it is difficult to let go of paranoia.
"In 1997, when Hong Kong became a part of China, was this a bad thing? China's development is changing with each passing day. Hong Kong has acquired a country like this in a small place like this. This is something we didn't have before," said Christine Lu.
She does not think that Hong Kong’s international development space is "shrinking", because Hong Kong still has a lot of power, which is unmatched by Beijing and Shanghai. "Hong Kong is Chinese and international, and it is established at the same time. It can never be the United Kingdom. The colony of China feels that it is international, and that it is not enough to be the most open city in China."
Zhang Bingliang also mentioned the advantages of Hong Kong-powers that mainland cities cannot match, such as the right to a certain degree of foreign affairs.
Chapter 7 of the Basic Law stipulates that the State Council of the People’s Republic of China authorizes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to independently cooperate with other countries in the world under the name of "Hong Kong, China" in the fields of economy, trade, finance, shipping, communications, tourism, culture, and sports. The region and relevant international organizations maintain and develop relations, and sign and implement relevant agreements.
"For example, when I was the director of transportation and housing, I needed to negotiate air rights with foreign countries-this was authorized by the Central Government and the Basic Law after the handover of Hong Kong." Zhang Bingliang said, "As China becomes more and more open and connects with the world, Hong Kong It was supposed to play an important role as a global hub—it is the same to this day.”
Christine Lu does not believe that Hong Kong's international development space is "shrinking", because Hong Kong still has a lot of power, which is unmatched by Beijing and Shanghai.
(Profile picture)
Limited role and unlimited potential
However, he also admitted that China’s diplomatic relations have a direct impact on Hong Kong. For example, Sino-US relations have deteriorated, and some countries have requested that some cooperation agreements with Hong Kong be stopped. According to the "bilateral relations" approach, China will also announce that Hong Kong and these The relationship between the countries is invalid.
In other words, in some conflicting situations, the central government can make decisions on behalf of Hong Kong, because Hong Kong's foreign affairs rights are granted by the central government.
"According to my observations, some Western countries' restrictions on Hong Kong, including the suspension of bilateral agreements, are basically terminated by the other party before China responds. Nevertheless, Hong Kong will be very passive in it. On the contrary, if the relationship between the two countries is good, Hong Kong's space will be larger, and it can be more active externally," Zhang Bingliang analyzed.
"Hong Kong can no longer imagine that it is a role detached from China and the West, and this role will be thankless in the "Cold War" situation. Therefore, at this time, Hong Kong should play the role of the external "connector", not the "middleman." Huang Yushun pointed out that “since the country’s foreign policy has shifted from keeping a low profile to a tougher model, the role of an intermediary is no longer needed, so Hong Kong has to find a new position.” But in the past two years, Hong Kong has not only repeatedly destroyed itself politically. The future has gradually become a "grinding" between China and the United States, the economy has continued to decline, and the prospects are at a loss.
In 2000, Hong Kong’s GDP accounted for about 14% of the national GDP, but by 2020 it has fallen to about 2.6%.
Huang Yushun said: "Under this political and economic reality, Hong Kong's influence on the country is not as good as before. But as a member of the country, I think Hong Kong can do three things to help the country and itself rise steadily."
Double loop.
1 | The international situation has changed drastically, China's strategic adjustment, Hong Kong's mountains and rain are about to come full of wind
Double loop.
Two｜The integration of land and port should find the right direction, otherwise it may cause side effects
Double loop.
Three | Multilateralism reshuffles Hong Kong how to turn dangers and obstacles into easy ways?
Double loop.
Four | Breaking structural contradictions with industrial planning, Hong Kong welcomes the nirvana of the phoenix
First of all, Hong Kong can act as a "coordinator." Some Hong Kong people who are well versed in foreign cultures and people’s sentiments have certain connections with overseas countries. They can play an important role of adviser in the dialogue between Hong Kong and overseas and form Hong Kong’s The "soft power" part.
At the same time, Huang Yushun believes that Hong Kong also needs to reflect on its role as a bridge in cultural education.
"For example, between China and the United States, along with generations or racial discrimination, the bridge between the two is constantly being divided. Hong Kong can completely reshape this role and strengthen the connection of some non-political sensitive areas. This is very important."
The most important thing is to control the "foundation"-finance.
Huang Yushun pointed out that Hong Kong should take advantage of its own system and take the role of cross-regional financing and legal adjudication, while helping China resolve some regional financial issues that span Southeast Asia and even between Asia and Europe.
Guo Wanda, vice president of the National Hong Kong and Macau Research Association and executive vice president of the Comprehensive Development Research Institute (Shenzhen, China), wrote an article "The Belt and Road and the Role of Hong Kong's International Financing Center" in 2015 to analyze Hong Kong's important position in it.
The article pointed out that financial integration is an important support for the construction of the “Belt and Road”. As a global financial center second only to New York and London, Hong Kong not only has a strong financial infrastructure and talent training system, it is also a considerable offshore RMB center and An important overseas financing center for mainland enterprises.
Therefore, Hong Kong should take this opportunity to strengthen its position in global finance, especially its function as an international financing center.
In the same way, such a role can also be played in the current Greater Bay Area, demonstrating its unique position.
Huang Yushun emphasized that Hong Kong people can dislike, reject, or pretend to be invisible to political reality, but this is meaningless.
"Hong Kong currently has two options. One is to find its own special status in the development of the country, as mentioned above, and the other is to continue to oppose the country and finally destroy the Great Wall."
Christine Lu said that Hong Kong needs to prove to the country and the world that it is still a place with strength and potential.
(Data Picture/Photo by Yu Junliang)
The "Three Sets" of Politicians
Compared with Huang Yushun's actual direction, Christine Lu is more concerned about the "lower-level logic" of Hong Kong people. To clarify this fundamental logic, we need the ability and strength of Hong Kong politicians.
"It should be noted that although Hong Kong’s sovereignty is in Beijing, the Hong Kong government’s degree of freedom is actually very high. Unfortunately, after 1997, the Hong Kong government has not had a clear strategy for the three dimensions of Hong Kong, the country, and the world. Make clear positioning and planning, so we have been in a very passive position."
Christine Lu said that Hong Kong needs to prove to the country and the world that it is still a place with strength and potential.
This requires Hong Kong politicians to have three sets of discourses: "One is to use Cantonese to speak to the citizens of Hong Kong; the other is to use Putonghua to speak to the mainland compatriots; the third is to use English to speak to the international community."
Among them, "speaking Cantonese" means that from the government to the party, Hong Kong people should be helped to recognize the political reality, make practical plans for Hong Kong, and find a suitable position for Hong Kong's future development.
For "speaking Putonghua", it is necessary to communicate with the mainland and seek cooperation between the two places under "one country, two systems."
Facing the world is to prove and express its position to the world. Hong Kong has an irreplaceable status and value in the international arena.
"This requires our politicians not only to make sense of these three sets of statements, but also to speak "soundingly". But ask yourself, these people in Hong Kong who are "doing politics" do not have this ability yet." Lu Gonghui smiled bitterly.
Perhaps, as Christine Lu said, Hong Kong people are always accustomed to making "absolute" judgments, labeling themselves as "Western Hong Kong" while rejecting the fact of "Hong Kong, China."
When there are more and more blind people, can Hong Kong have the courage to put aside the halo of self-deception?
As a special part of the country, Hong Kong can do much more than just a city in the Greater Bay Area and a special zone in China. It is an important hub in the Asia-Pacific region and even the world.
When China has begun to "face up" the world, is Hong Kong ready to "face up" to reality?
The above is excerpted from the 261th issue of "Hong Kong 01" Weekly (April 19, 2021) "When China can look up to the world and how Hong Kong is facing the new global order-Hong Kong sees itself abandoning its self-deception and consolidating its own value". If you want to read the full text, please
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Selected content of the 261 issue of "Hong Kong 01" Weekly News:
[Cover report] When China can look up to the world, how Hong Kong will face up to the new global order
Hong Kong children lack a "protection net" behind frequent child abuse cases
After the supervision of ``boots landing'', the valuation of ants ``folds up''
From working at home to mixed office in the post-epidemic era
Spring Shanghai Fashion Week for Chinese Independent Designers: The Turning Point of the Trend of Local Fashion
China-Hong Kong Relations Financial Industry Special Zone Government Greater Bay Area Basic Law One Belt One Road 01 Weekly In-depth report
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