Hong Kong for China
Decisions in China are taken by the president and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCCPC), in consultation with the Great Assembly of the People, in a process called democratic centralism. It is a kind of controlled democracy that is centralized and is considered quick and efficient.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, believes in the traditional form of liberal democracy that is de-centralized and run by elected representatives of the people. Decisions are taken after elaborate debates among the elected representatives and based on compromise. It is a lengthy process that is messy.
But it is far more democratic than
China’s so-called “democratic centralism.”
It was agreed when Britain handed over its former colony to China that Hong Kong would be allowed to run its own affairs under “one country with two systems.” This would permit Hong Kong’s elected representatives to make their own laws, with China providing an advisory role. This would help China govern Hong Kong with the consent of the people of Hong Kong.
This was hailed as a novel way for two diametrically different systems of government to exist side by side in the same country. It was also touted as a way Taiwan could join China while retaining its own political system. Hong Kong became emblematic for “New China” an as open society.
Things did not go smoothly as anticipated. Although China benefited from Hong Kong’s presence in its modernization efforts, people of Hong Kong resented China’s interference in the new territory’s democratic governance. Through its appointed representative, Beijing tried to undermine Hong Kong’s budding democracy.
Now the frustration of the people of Hong Kong has boiled over to the extradition of criminals to China and China’s trying to impose it over the opposition of the democratically elected representatives.
The protest has become an open revolt for democracy. But China must find a way to preserve democracy without violence that would undermine China’s legitimacy in Hong Kong.
China should allow democracy to flourish in Hong Kong. It would be no threat to China. In fact, it would make China a model of toleration and would improve its image.