4 ms·

This is something I don't understand as well. Why didn't Hong Kong choose to become an independent state when they had the chance? They could have thrived like

This is something I don't understand as well. Why didn't Hong Kong choose to become an independent state when they had the chance? They could have thrived like Singapore does.

skhr0680 5y ago
They didn't have a choice. It was either rejoin China or get their water cut off.
- kindatrue 5y ago
  Electricity too. That PRC nuclear plant that was in the news? Helps power HK.
alau1218 5y ago
CCP didn't allow Hong Kong people to choose. They didn't even allow Hong Kong people to participate in the hand over negotiation. Remember CCP is a group of savage dictators and does not embrace the Western values, such as respect, equality, that are familiar to us.
- _tik_ 5y ago
  The British did not allowed them to choose either. The members of legislative created by the British is based on appointment not elections. The British only decided the reform the legislative after the handover sealed.
  - kenneth 5y ago
    The CCP prevented the British from enacting democratic reforms and any self-determination in Hong Kong, under the thread of military invasion. This isn't on Britain, they tried decades prior.
- yibg 5y ago
  I have no love for the CCP but I think this type of caricature simplification is both wrong and not insightful. The CCP members are not some cartoon villains bent on world domination.
_tik_ 5y ago
They could thrive only if their Govt rule like Singapore Govt.
dragonsh 5y ago
Hong Kong is still a more free society. So probably its not a good suggestion to make it worse than what it is already due to heavy handed approach to national security. Please check report in Hong Kong (52 points) [1] and Singapore (49 points) [2] on freedom. In Hong Kong one can go for protest if its not breaking the National Security Law, in Singapore no one can protest unless approved by Police, recent case highlights it when a student send a tweet to protest when Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Singapore [3]. Hong Kong is still very good when it comes to internet and freedom of expression. Also it follows common law jurisdictions and judges are able to give judgements against the government in many instances. Also Singapore has POFMA [4], which is worse than rules in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong anyone can form a company and manage it without having a local permanent resident or citizen as Director. In Singapore one cannot form a limited liability company easily unless has a local permanent resident or citizen as Director (for others need a special conditions and permission). [1] https://freedomhouse.org/country/hong-kong/freedom-world/2021 https://freedomhouse.org/country/hong-kong/freedom-world/202... [2] https://freedomhouse.org/country/singapore/freedom-world/2021 https://freedomhouse.org/country/singapore/freedom-world/202... [3] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/spf-tweet-protest-australian-high-commission-scott-morrison-14979748 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/spf-tweet-pro... [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_from_Online_Falsehoods_and_Manipulation_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_from_Online_Falseho...

This is something I don't understand as well. Why didn't Hong Kong choose to become an independent state when they had the chance? They could have thrived like Singapore does.

skhr0680 5y ago

They didn't have a choice. It was either rejoin China or get their water cut off.

kindatrue 5y ago
Electricity too. That PRC nuclear plant that was in the news? Helps power HK.

alau1218 5y ago

CCP didn't allow Hong Kong people to choose. They didn't even allow Hong Kong people to participate in the hand over negotiation. Remember CCP is a group of savage dictators and does not embrace the Western values, such as respect, equality, that are familiar to us.

_tik_ 5y ago
The British did not allowed them to choose either. The members of legislative created by the British is based on appointment not elections. The British only decided the reform the legislative after the handover sealed.
- kenneth 5y ago
  The CCP prevented the British from enacting democratic reforms and any self-determination in Hong Kong, under the thread of military invasion. This isn't on Britain, they tried decades prior.
yibg 5y ago
I have no love for the CCP but I think this type of caricature simplification is both wrong and not insightful. The CCP members are not some cartoon villains bent on world domination.

_tik_ 5y ago

They could thrive only if their Govt rule like Singapore Govt.

dragonsh 5y ago

Hong Kong is still a more free society. So probably its not a good suggestion to make it worse than what it is already due to heavy handed approach to national security. Please check report in Hong Kong (52 points) [1] and Singapore (49 points) [2] on freedom. In Hong Kong one can go for protest if its not breaking the National Security Law, in Singapore no one can protest unless approved by Police, recent case highlights it when a student send a tweet to protest when Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Singapore [3]. Hong Kong is still very good when it comes to internet and freedom of expression. Also it follows common law jurisdictions and judges are able to give judgements against the government in many instances. Also Singapore has POFMA [4], which is worse than rules in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong anyone can form a company and manage it without having a local permanent resident or citizen as Director. In Singapore one cannot form a limited liability company easily unless has a local permanent resident or citizen as Director (for others need a special conditions and permission). [1] https://freedomhouse.org/country/hong-kong/freedom-world/2021 https://freedomhouse.org/country/hong-kong/freedom-world/202... [2] https://freedomhouse.org/country/singapore/freedom-world/2021 https://freedomhouse.org/country/singapore/freedom-world/202... [3] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/spf-tweet-protest-australian-high-commission-scott-morrison-14979748 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/spf-tweet-pro... [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_from_Online_Falsehoods_and_Manipulation_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_from_Online_Falseho...