Look at Xinjiang, the CCP has been tolerated and granted many people amnesty. They invited "moderates" to join the government institutions. They funded the building of many new mosques. Did it placate the radicals. The answer is no. Not only the radicals didn't get placated. They used the opportunities to infiltrate the government institutions. In the end, the radicals started killing people. And the moderates helped the radicals, funded the radicals, and supported the radicals. Sounds familiar.
If radical behavior continues and people keep getting killed, I think it becomes a different story. My idea for amnesty for those who did not attempt murder. However, deradicalization requires many steps both short and long term.
A key point is, short term, institutions such as schools, churches, and media must all denounce violence. Why were HK radicals able to cause so much damage, all 3 of those institutions (usually the most influential) all openly supported their actions. I believe part of it was for political gain, now they have won district elections, they will also have greater voice in choosing CE. If they are able to make gains, but violence continues or gets worse, then they have to take a stand. If they don't then they are true psychopaths and willing to win a Pyrrhic victory, at which I guess there is no choice for the newly-minted opposition but to migrate elsewhere.
Assuming the short term goals are able to be accomplished, then you must deradicalize the education apparatus. There is absolutely no excuse for teachers bringing minors to a standoff against police. These people should be fired right away for endangering children. Of course, we can see that the government is soft on them right now. However, any future government cannot stand down on something like this. Why did USA target so many "madrassas" in Afghanistan?
Instead of being proud of China's achievement in the past 3 decades, many HK people are actually envy and being sour grapes. Most of the luxury stores in HK actually depend on mainlanders and don't like the locals. When you used to look down at someone but now you are the one being look down upon, what would you feel. Many HK people just don't want to face the reality. HK is no longer the gateway of China and indispensable.
I would like to add that I think the leftover cold war mentality that still permeates throughout the Western hemisphere has also influenced the anti-China thought. Since most HK'ers are descended from mainland China, I think many families have embellished their pasts to say they "escaped Communism" rather than the reality of seeking better fortune. If you don't add this "heroic" element, then it just seems like you missed the boat. If you missed the boat, you naturally fall into the "have not" category and resentment grows.
(Note for readers not familiar with HK: In case are thinking, all HK’ers are from China! I mean "natives", for example, people who belong to Heung Yee Kuk:
)
Eventally the truth will dawn on most of the die hards; the mainlanders will be richer, on the average, than Hong Kongers will be by then, and probably freer too, in the things that matter. Media cannot distort reality forever -- especially when reality is only a few kilometers away. Eventually the die hards will begin to sound hollow, and the sensible people will abandon them.
I agree that the truth will be hard to ignore. However, the anti-establishment might come up with more outrageous theories like CCP is robbing HK, and many people would probably believe it.
The more extreme "yellow silk" have said, they do not need an economy, they just need freedom. That is truly religious-level belief, because it has no basis in reality at all. What would the economy of HK look like with limited access to PRC? The 4 "bigs" of HK economy are professional services, logistics, tourism, and finance. All are totally dependent on PRC and employ like 80% of the workforce or something like that.
I think this quote nailed it
Not until Shenzhen, Shanghai, and many major Chinese cities surpassed HK in GDP per capita. It isn't about the truth. It is more about which side you choose to be with.
second guessing stuff (plus saying Beijing might turn down an elected
)
So just to clarify, because it is a kind of complicated process. They would not turn down the actual elected official. There are candidates for CE nominated by a nomination council which have to be approved by Beijing. These approved candidates are then voted on by the citizens. What the article is talking about is potentially turning down nominated candidates.
Reflections of a Hong Kong friend...
Hard work of older generations built MTR, built Universities, built the road and bridges, made the city clean to no longer need "rat boxes" on lamp posts (
). Radicals have only tried to destroy. Now that these new councillors have successfully utilized their weapon, time will tell whether they only seek personal power or actually have a plan to “Make HK Great Again”
