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As an expat living in Hong Kong, I've noticed a clear change of mood since the ramming-through of the National Security Law last month. Protests have all but di

As an expat living in Hong Kong, I've noticed a clear change of mood since the ramming-through of the National Security Law last month. Protests have all but died, and people are genuinely aware of having lost their relative freedoms of speech and assembly. Businesses on the "yellow" (pro-protest) side are distancing themselves from their support of the movement. Politicians are quitting opposition parties because they're afraid of being disappeared. Individuals are afraid to go out and protest. A friend recently asked me to keep a hard hat for her because she was afraid that if she was caught with it at her house it'd be evidence she participate in the protests. China has basically given up any semblance of autonomy for Hong Kong. It's clear who runs the show here. Carrie Lam is universally despised (her approval ratings make Trump look like Mother Theresa). Nobody respects authority anymore. It's clear in daily life.

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koheripbal 6y ago
While the timeline was accelerated this year, it's hard to imagine that there could have been a different outcome. It's been decades now since the UK formally handed over HK to the Chinese central government, and the Chinese have always said they would integrate it slowly into mainland China. Hundreds of thousands of HKers have been migrating out of China for decades. I'm unclear why people expected HK to ever be autonomous permanently?
- ardy42 6y ago
  > I'm unclear why people expected HK to ever be autonomous permanently? No one did, but the treaty said it would semi-autonomous for 50 years. These actions are 27 years early, so they didn't even keep their end of the deal for half the time they promised. Also, a lot can happen in three decades, and one could have held out hope that the PRC could have undergone some kind of liberal reforms before the treaty expired.
- AnimalMuppet 6y ago
  "Slowly" turned into "slowly, and then all at once". And, as ardy42 pointed out, earlier than the deal said.
- fsckboy 6y ago
  It's not that people expected HK to be autonomous permanently, but that it was expected that opening access to the west for the whole of China, and to western economies, and especially through Hong Kong, would lead to a rising Chinese middle class who would want more liberal democratic values, and a corresponding decrease in paranoia by the ruling elite. There is historical evidence that suggests that liberal values flourish better with prosperity, just as environmental and anti-pollution awareness increases once people rise above subsistence.

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koheripbal 6y ago

While the timeline was accelerated this year, it's hard to imagine that there could have been a different outcome. It's been decades now since the UK formally handed over HK to the Chinese central government, and the Chinese have always said they would integrate it slowly into mainland China. Hundreds of thousands of HKers have been migrating out of China for decades. I'm unclear why people expected HK to ever be autonomous permanently?

ardy42 6y ago
> I'm unclear why people expected HK to ever be autonomous permanently? No one did, but the treaty said it would semi-autonomous for 50 years. These actions are 27 years early, so they didn't even keep their end of the deal for half the time they promised. Also, a lot can happen in three decades, and one could have held out hope that the PRC could have undergone some kind of liberal reforms before the treaty expired.
AnimalMuppet 6y ago
"Slowly" turned into "slowly, and then all at once". And, as ardy42 pointed out, earlier than the deal said.
fsckboy 6y ago
It's not that people expected HK to be autonomous permanently, but that it was expected that opening access to the west for the whole of China, and to western economies, and especially through Hong Kong, would lead to a rising Chinese middle class who would want more liberal democratic values, and a corresponding decrease in paranoia by the ruling elite. There is historical evidence that suggests that liberal values flourish better with prosperity, just as environmental and anti-pollution awareness increases once people rise above subsistence.